Old Belvedere Rugby Football Club

Dear Members,

September ended in remarkable fashion for Irish Rugby and Old Belvedere RFC. Ireland beat World Champions New Zealand in a stunning victory that will go down in history. Seven of our Senior Women’s players were part of the matchday squad for the sensational opening game of the WXV1 competition in Vancouver. Having climbed from WXV3 to WXV1 last year, it was a performance that has shaken the rugby world and our women’s players were integral to this win.

The game reached a nail-biting climax when Belvo 7's Olympian Erin King, coming on as a replacement, scored her second try of the match, levelling the scores at 27-27 in the final minute. With the pressure on, it was Belvo’s own Dannah O’Brien who stepped up to convert the try, securing the 29-27 win for Ireland via the upright. This match not only stunned the reigning champions but also cemented the growing prowess of our Belvo women at the international level.

The Irish squad that travelled to Vancouver includes nine of our senior players, making their impact felt on the global stage. Their next challenge comes this Saturday, October 5th, as they face another tough test against Canada. Following her standout performance Erin King has earned a well-deserved promotion to the 1st XV. Deirbhile Nic a Bháird has been named on the bench and is set to make her long-awaited return to the pitch. The Ireland v Canada game kicks off at 11:45 PM Irish Time. You can watch the match live via Rugby Pass TV.

On that note, a huge congratulations to all the players named in tomorrow's match-day squad: Dannah O'Brien, Niamh O'Dowd, Linda Djougang, Fiona Tuite, Erin King, Brittany Hogan, Deirbhile Nic a Bháird, and Aoife Dalton.

The international scene isn’t the only place where our players are excelling. September has been packed with incredible moments, celebrating both individual achievements and team successes.

We were thrilled to see Derv back in the Ireland jersey, ready for her return after a long recovery from injury. The resilience and dedication she has shown in getting back to this level are nothing short of inspiring. She also sat on the panel of the first IRFU Women In Rugby conference with past player and Ireland international Nora Stapleton. Earlier in the month King and Ruth Campbell also received their first caps for Ireland in a memorable clash against the Wallaroos at Kingspan Stadium. 

Closer to home, our Women’s Director of Rugby, Cathy Murphy, the women’s committee and management have spearheaded the launch of a new AIL 2 league in collaboration with Blackrock College RFC and Railway Union RFC. This new league aims to give our women’s 2nds team more game time and opportunities to expand their skillsets. The league kicks off this evening at 6:30 PM following the Energia AIL 1st XV Games. A sincere thank you to Dorothy Collins for her dedication and effort in bringing the AIL 2 league to fruition.

As we kick off October, there is a palpable sense of excitement within the club. Whether it’s the historic achievements on the international stage or the strides being made at home, the future is bright for the Old Belvedere Women’s rugby and the club in turn. We can’t wait to see what lies in store, as we continue to push the boundaries and support our players on every level.