Banbridge Rugby Club - Northern Ireland

For the second season running a Banbridge youth player collected the Calor Gas Ulster Youth Player of the Year Award, this time in the guise of Jonny Murphy who also represented Ireland U18 in the European Championships along with Banbridge team mate Charles Gallagher.

Meanwhile the 2nd XV produced their best league performance since the club became Senior, finishing fourth in the league, in the company of teams who traditionally would have been viewed as more dominant forces in Ulster rugby. The 2nds league campaign included a run of thirteen games unbeaten stretching from October to April and their season points strongly to a strength in depth in the club that has, in other seasons, been lacking.

The strongest portents for the future can be found in the 1st XV squad. A second top four finish in the past three seasons indicates Banbridge's progression in recent times since the rise to Senior ranks in 1998. A number of the more senior and experienced players who were involved three seasons ago who since retired or stepped down from senior level, have been replaced by younger counterparts to the extent that that side that played in the Division 3 Playoff Semi-final had a younger average age than their opponents Queens University.

That so many of the current 1st XV side have progressed through Rifle Park's underage teams is testament to the strong youth system and its group of dedicated coaches.

The loss of a three players 1st XV squad members in the past month has been offset by a number of significant signings during the same period. Dale Carson returns to Banbridge after this work took him to Dublin and five seasons with Division 1 side Clontarf. Former Banbridge Academy scrum-half Colin Hamilton also returns to the club from Grosvenor while former Ballyclare High School and Ulster Schools back row Mark Wilson also joins the Rifle Park ranks leaving Queens where he played for two seasons. Finally, centre Jonny Pollock joins Banbridge from relegated Portadown.

By far the most significant signing is that of the club's new coach, Daniel Soper.

Soper returns to the club where he first played when he came to Ireland in 1998, enjoying five seasons at Banbridge interspersed with European Cup rugby in Italy and a season in his homeland, New Zealand. Most recently he has been involved in the coaching setup at Ballynahinch, acting as assistant to Derek Suffern for the past three seasons.

Soper's appointment is seen by the club as important in securing promotion in the forthcoming season and that is a target that he shares,

"I am delighted that we have managed to retain so many of last season's squad. A few players have left, but those coming in are ones which I hold in high regard and I am confident that the squad can improve on last season."

The reorganisation of the All Ireland League will mean the top four teams in Division 3 will be promoted into what will become Division 2A under the new structure at the end of the forthcoming season and Soper and Banbridge will have their eyes firmly fixed on that goal.

Banbridge Player Transfers:

IN
Dale Carson from Clontarf
Colin Hamilton from Grosvenor
Jonny Pollock from Portadown
Mark Wilson from Queens

OUT
Matthew Irvine to Ballynahinch
Stephen Irvine to Ballynahinch
Chris Leathem to Dromore