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Ballymena R.F.C.
Ballymena Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in the town of Ballymena, Northern Ireland, playing in Division 2A of the All-Ireland League. It is affiliated to the Ulster branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union. The club fields five adult teams and an under-20s team. In youth rugby, there are under-18s, under-16s and under-14s teams. Formation Ballymena RFC was first affiliated to the Northern Branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union in 1887, but the Club as we know it today, began after the First World War, in 1922, and entered the Junior League in the 1923–24 season, playing their games in the local Demesne. Within the next 10 years, they twice won both the Provincial Towns· Cup and the Junior Challenge Cup, and even competed, albeit with little success, in the Senior Challenge Cup. The Post War Era at the end of the Second World War, the Club reformed, and were now playing at the Showgrounds, using the changing facilities provided by Ballymena Academy, whose He ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Irish Rugby Football Union
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) () is the body managing rugby union in the island of Ireland (both Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland). The IRFU has its head office at 10/12 Lansdowne Road and home ground at Aviva Stadium, where adult men's Ireland national rugby union team, Irish rugby union international matches are played. In addition, the Union also owns the Ravenhill Stadium in Belfast, Thomond Park in Limerick and a number of grounds in provincial areas that have been rented to clubs. History Initially, there were two unions: the Irish Football Union, which had jurisdiction over clubs in Leinster, Munster and parts of Ulster and was founded in December 1874, and the Northern Football Union of Ireland, which controlled the Belfast area and was founded in January 1875. The IRFU was formed in 1879 as an amalgamation of these two organisations and branches of the new IRFU were formed in Leinster, Munster and Ulster. The Connacht Branch was formed in 1900. The IR ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ulster Junior Cup
The Ulster Junior Cup is a rugby union competition for clubs in the Irish province of Ulster Ulster (; or ; or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional or historic provinces of Ireland, Irish provinces. It is made up of nine Counties of Ireland, counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kingdom); t ... that are not considered strong enough to play in the Ulster Senior Cup. It also includes the second teams of the senior clubs. The perpetual trophy that is awarded to the winners is called ''The Balmoral Cup'' The most successful club is Queen's University with 15 wins. The current holder is Ballyclare Performance by Club Finals 1880s and 90s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s Sources {{Rugby union in Ireland Rugby union competitions in Ulster 1888 establishments in Ireland ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Andrew Trimble
Andrew Trimble (born 20 October 1984) is a former Irish rugby union player who played for Ulster and represented Ireland at international level. Club career He attended Coleraine Academical Institution, where he competed in the Ulster Schools Cup. He played at outside centre or on the wing for Ulster Rugby. In April 2006 he signed a new three-year deal with Ulster. Trimble also played club rugby for Ballymena RFC in the AIB League and has represented Ireland Schools and the Ireland U21 team. Due to a pre-season groin injury, however, he required surgery and missed part of the 2007–08 season. He later underwent a hernia operation. On 30 April 2009, Trimble underwent surgery on his right knee to remove a piece of chipped bone. In May 2018, Trimble announced that he would be retiring from rugby at the end of the 2017–18 season. He does however, on occasion, still partake in amateur level competition with his local Coleraine rugby club. International career Trimble, re ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jamie Smith (rugby Union)
Jamie Smith (born 25 June 1988) is a retired rugby union player from Ballymena, Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ; ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, part of the United Kingdom in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It has been #Descriptions, variously described as a country, province or region. Northern Ireland shares Repub ..., who progressed through the Ulster Academy. His usual position was Full back. Rugby career Smith was voted Ulster Young Player of the Year in 2009. In September 2011 he joined Newport Gwent Dragons. He was released by Newport Gwent Dragons at the end of the 2012–13 season due to a career ending injury. Jamie is now Director of Rugby at Ballymena RFC. He is overseeing a transitional period where the club is experiencing generational change. This sees the club remain in division 2A, having utilised a young squad throughout the season with inexperienced coaching staff. References External links Jamie SmithNewport Gwent Dragons ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
James Topping
James “Jimmy” Topping (born 18 December 1974) is an Irish rugby former player and current coach. As a player, he won eight caps for the Ireland national rugby union team between 1996 and 2003, playing on the wing. Topping was born in Belfast and played his club rugby for Ballymena and Ulster. Topping also played sevens for the Ireland national rugby sevens team. He played at the 2001 Rugby World Cup Sevens and also played several legs on the World Rugby Sevens Series. Since retiring from playing, Topping has been involved in coaching, including Ulster youth rugby, and the Ireland national rugby sevens team The Ireland national rugby sevens team competed in several international rugby sevens competitions. The team was governed by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU). In May 2025 the IRFU dismantled the programme at the end of the 2024/25 season, i .... References Irish rugby union players Ireland international rugby union players Rugby union wings Ulster Rugb ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Steve Smith (rugby Union, Born 1959)
Stephen James Smith (born 18 July 1959 in Belfast, Northern Ireland) is a former Ireland international rugby union player. He played as a hooker. He had 25 caps for Ireland, from 1988 to 1993, scoring 2 tries, 8 points in aggregate. He was selected for the 1991 Rugby World Cup, playing three games and was a replacement called out for the inaugural World Cup in New Zealand/Australia in 1987. Smith played for 5 seasons at the Five Nations, in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993. In 1988 represented the Barbarians against the touring Wallabies at Cardiff making his full debut for Ireland in the same year. In 1989 he toured Australia with the British and Irish Lions The British & Irish Lions is a rugby union team selected from players eligible for the national teams of England national rugby union team, England, Ireland national rugby union team, Ireland, Scotland national rugby union team, Scotland, and ... and in the same year represented an International Touring XV as part of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gary Longwell
Gary Longwell (born 30 July 1971 in Belfast) is an Irish international rugby player. His usual position is as a lock, or second row. He spent his entire career playing for Irish provincial side Ulster, making his debut aged 19 in 1991. He was part of the Heineken Cup-winning Ulster team of 1999 in the 21–6 victory over Colomiers at Lansdowne Road in Dublin. In 2015, he was inducted into the Newtownabbey Hall of Fame Provincial career He made 152 caps for his provincial side Ulster, making his debut aged just 19 against English side Cornwall in 1991. He also played an integral role in the Heineken Cup final victory winning Ulster team of 1999 in the 21–6 victory over Colomiers at Lansdowne Road in Dublin. International career Longwell made his debut for the Irish national team on 11 November 2000 in a Test against Japan in Dublin and went on to win 26 caps. He was a part of Ireland's squad at the 2003 Rugby World Cup The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Trevor Ringland
Trevor Maxwell Ringland, (born 13 November 1959) is a Northern Irish solicitor, former rugby union player and unionist politician. From June 2013 to July 2014, he served as co-chairman of the NI Conservatives. After attending Larne Grammar School, he read law at Queen's University Belfast. He is a spokesperson for the unionist campaign group Uniting UK. Rugby career Ringland made 31 competitive appearances for , scoring nine tries. The majority of his appearances came in the Five Nations, with the remainder coming in the 1987 Rugby World Cup. He also represented Ulster and Ballymena. In 1983 he toured New Zealand with the British & Irish Lions. Since retirement, he has coached at Ballymena and been a committee member of the Irish Rugby Football Union. In his later years he joined Belfast Club CIYMS where he played for the golden oldies 4th xv, known as the Dream Team, consisting of former senior players. The team was managed by Tommy Andrews the former hooker and current ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dion O'Cuinnegain
Dion O'Cuinneagain (born 24 May 1972 in Cape Town, South Africa) is a former rugby union player who represented both South Africa and Ireland. Since retiring as a rugby player, O'Cuinneagain has worked as a doctor and as a rugby coach. Early years O'Cuinneagain was born and raised in Cape Town. His father, Connell, was a dentist who came from County Dublin, Ireland. The O'Cuinneagain family originally came from Enniscorthy in County Wexford. His mother was an English nurse who came from Lancashire. O'Cuinneagain was educated at Rondebosch Boys' School before going on to study medicine at Stellenbosch University. As a youth he showed potential in several sports. He also represented Western Cape at schoolboy cricket and was a notable hurdler. Clubs and Provinces O'Cuinneagain played rugby at various levels with University of Cape Town and then Western Province where his teammates included, among others, Tiaan Strauss, Corné Krige and Bobby Skinstad. However his career was in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jonathan Moffett
Jonathan Phillip "Sugarfoot" Moffett (born November 17, 1954) is an American drummer, songwriter and record producer from New Orleans, Louisiana. Beginning in 1979, Moffett collaborated with the Jackson family, particularly Michael Jackson, over the course of 30 years. More recently, he has worked with other notable artists and producers such as Madonna (entertainer), Madonna, George Michael, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones and many others. Early life Moffett is the third of a musical family of siblings. His two other brothers played the guitar and the bass guitar, while Jonathan's father encouraged him to drum. His influences are Ziggy Modeliste, Zigaboo, Buddy Rich, Louis Bellson, Billy Cobham, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Roger Taylor (Queen drummer), Roger Taylor and other drummers, mostly originating from New Orleans. He initially wanted to play the bass guitar long before drums. He was always acutely aware of the bass guitar parts in songs and mimicked them on th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Matt McCullough
Matt McCullough (born 9 September 1981) is a former Irish rugby union player, who played in the second row for Ulster and Ireland McCullough was educated at Ballymena Academy, captaining the school's 1st XV to the 2000 Ulster Schools' Cup final, and represented Ulster and Ireland at schools level. He was named Ulster Schools Player of the Year in the 2000 Ulster Rugby Awards. He studied at Trinity College Dublin, but left when he was offered a contract at Ulster in 2001, and continued his studies at the University of Ulster at Jordanstown. He made his first appearance for Ulster against Connacht in the 2001–02 season, but saw little action in his early seasons with the province, while turning out for Ballymena in the All-Ireland League and captaining the Ireland under-21 team. He made 21 appearances, including 17 start, for Ulster in the 2003–04 season, and 26 appearances, including 25 starts, in the 2004–05 season, and his form was rewarded with selection for the 200 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
David Humphreys (rugby Union)
David Humphreys MBE (born 10 September 1971) is an Irish former rugby union player. He played 72 times for Ireland, scoring 560 points, including 6 tries, and at the time of his international retirement was Ireland's most capped out-half. He played his club rugby for London Irish and Ulster, winning the 1998-99 Heineken Cup, the 2004 Celtic Cup and the 2005–06 Celtic League with the latter. Since retiring as a player he has served as director of rugby for Ulster and Gloucester, as a performance consultant with the Georgian Rugby Union, and Director of Performance Operations with the England and Wales Cricket Board. Since June 2024 he has been Performance Director of the IRFU. Playing career Early career Humphreys started playing rugby while at Ballymena Academy,Jonathan Bradley, ''The Last Amateurs: The Incredible Story of Ulster Rugby's 1999 European Champions'', The Blackstaff Press, 2018 and represented Ireland Schools, captaining them to the Triple Crown in 1990. I ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
