Old Belvedere R.F.C.

Old Belvedere Rugby Football Club was originally established in 1918–19 following a meeting at Belvedere College. The club initially played in the Dublin League. At the final meeting during their debut season, it was decided to enter senior rugby union and open the club to other Jesuit college students and "to outsiders, who may wish to join us." Their first senior match was against a now defunct club, Merrion. On Saint Patrick's Day 1920, Old Belvedere played their first Leinster Senior Cup game which they lost 0–3 to Wanderers. Kevin Barry played for the Old Belvedere seconds during the 1920–21 season but his arrest and execution, along with the internment of other players, during Irish War of Independence era contributed to the demise of the original club before the start of the 1922–23 season. [2][3]

Old Belvedere reformed as a junior club in April 1930. This time membership was restricted to former pupils of Belvedere College. The team reached the final of the Leinster Junior League in their first season following their return, losing 11–3 to Bective Rangers. Six future club presidents - George J. Morgan, Eddie Gleeson, Tommy Whelan, Paddy Kevans, John Cummins and Bob O'Connell - all played in this final. The club won their first trophy, the Metropolitan Cup, in 1936 and retained it in 1937. These results encouraged the club to apply for senior status which was gained in time for the 1937–38 season. [2][3]

Old Belvedere recorded their first win in the Leinster Senior Cup in 1940 when they defeated Blackrock College 11–6 after receiving a bye into the second round. Old Belvedere subsequently won the Leinster Senior Cup seven times in a row between 1940 and 1946. Their unbeaten run in the cup came to an end on 26 April 1947 when they lost the 1947 final to Wanderers. Another highlight from this era saw an Old Belvedere XV defeat a visiting New Zealand Services XV 12–6 in December 1946. Old Belvedere was the first Irish side to play a touring side after the Second World War, beating Racing Club de France 6–0 in Lansdowne Road. Several prestigious wins were recorded in the 1950s against Cardiff, Bristol, Wasps, Northampton and Leicester. [2][3][4]

The 1970s and 1980s were a lean period for the first team. Old Belvedere decided to become an open club again in 1976. Tom McGurk and the former St Mary's centre, Gary O'Hagan, became the first two non–Belvederian players to play for Old Belvedere since the club's earliest days. [2][3] In 1990 Ollie Campbell contacted Dr. Oliver Bourke, a friend who had emigrated to New Zealand, about the possibility of sending Old Belvedere youth players to Timaru for the summer. The ad hoc arrangement saw several players, including Peter McKenna, playing in New Zealand. The New Zealand connection also saw Steve McDowall and Bruce Deans coach and play with Old Belvedere. In 1998 Old Belvedere established a more formal arrangement with the Canterbury Rugby Football Union. [5][6][7]

Old Belvedere won the Leinster Senior League title in 1992–93, gaining promotion to the All-Ireland League Division 2. This team was coached by Donal Spring and featured Bruce Deans. [2][3] In 2006–07, with a team captained by Scott Hutton and featuring Andrew Dunne, Old Belvedere won their eleventh Leinster Senior Cup after a lapse of thirty nine years. [8] Old Belvedere won the 2010–11 All-Ireland League title after defeating Cork Constitution 20–17 in the final at Donnybrook Stadium on 1 May 2011. [9][10][11] In 2016–17 Old Belvedere won the Leinster Senior League title for a second time. They also finished as runners up in both the Leinster Senior Cup and the All-Ireland Cup. [1][12][13]