Naas RFC is an Irish

rugby Rugby may refer to: Sport * Rugby football in many forms: ** Rugby union: 15 players per side *** American flag rugby *** Beach rugby *** Mini rugby *** Rugby sevens, 7 players per side *** Rugby tens, 10 players per side *** Snow rugby *** Tou ...

club based in

Naas Naas ( ; or ) is the county town of County Kildare in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. In 2022, it had a population of 26,180, making it the largest town in County Kildare (ahead of Newbridge, County Kildare, Newbridge) and the List of urban ar ...

Leinster Leinster ( ; or ) is one of the four provinces of Ireland, in the southeast of Ireland. The modern province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige, which existed during Gaelic Ireland. Following the 12th-century ...

. They play in Division 1B of the All-Ireland League. The club colours are green and white hoops with black shorts and green socks. The Club is the biggest rugby club in Kildare with one of the biggest underage structures in Leinster and 17 LRR referees (May 2025). The club grounds are located at Forenaughts, 2 km to the East of the town.

History

The club was founded in 1881 and reformed in 1922. It was one of the leading Junior Clubs in Irish rugby before attaining All Ireland League Status in the 1999/2000 season. Back then the Club pitches were located in the town in the area where Ashgrove Estate and the Tennis Club are now. Subsequent travels took the Club to Doyle's Field at Tipper East (where the Paddocks estate is now) with the changing rooms being the jockeys room in Naas Racecourse! In 1974 he Club purchased land at (its current location) Fournaghts, 2 km to the East of Naas town, with the first games taking place there two years later in 1976. In the 2021/22 season, Naas RFC celebrated its 100th continuous season of playing rugby in Naas.

Honours

* Leinster Senior League: 1 **2024-25

Recent Events

In the 2024/2025 season, Naas RFC was the subject of formal complaints relating to alleged misinformation and reputational harm directed at volunteers and parents by a club official. While appeals were made to both the club and Leinster Rugby, no public outcome was announced. The club was later awarde
Leinster Senior Club of the Year in May 2025.

Notable players

* International players associated with the Club ** Mark Deering, Seamus Byrne, Frank Byrne, Philip Lawlor,

Geordan Murphy Geordan Edward Andrew Murphy (born 19 April 1978) is an Irish rugby union rugby coach and player who retired from the professional game as the most-decorated man in Premiership Rugby history. He played as fullback or wing for the Irish interna ...

Jamie Heaslip James Heaslip (born 15 December 1983) is an Irish people, Irish former rugby union player who represented Leinster Rugby, Leinster, Ireland national rugby union team, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions. He played as a Number 8 (rugby union), ...

, Adam Byrne, *

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 ...

: **

Fionn Carr Fionn Carr (born 17 December 1985) is a former Ireland, Irish rugby union player. He played mainly as a Wing (rugby union), wing but could also line out as Fullback (rugby union), fullback. Carr spent most of his professional career with Connac ...

Billy Dardis Billy Dardis (born 31 January 1995) is an Irish rugby union player. He is the captain of the Ireland national rugby sevens team, and also plays for University College Dublin R.F.C., Terenure College RFC in Division 1A of the All-Ireland League ( ...

Jimmy O'Brien (rugby union) Erin King * Ireland U20s Internationals **

; Adam Byrne;

; Adam Coyle; Jamie Osborne (rugby union), Diarmuid Mangan, Andrew Osborne, Oscar Cawley * Youth Internationals ** Kevin Cleary Jr, Joseph Moran, Eoghan Conran, Kaylin Domican, David Lynch (captain), Michael Moran, Enda Daly, Colin McEntee, Micheal Skeleton (Captain), Adam Byrne. Maebh Obrien (7's), Erin Kin

* Leinster Youths Representatives ** Dave Conneran, Enda Daly, Michael Moran, Eoghan Conran, Gavin Dooley, Adam Denvir, Kaylin Domican, Rob Campbell, Daniel O'Byrne, Jared Owens, Adam Byrne, Richard Cronin, Mark Rushe, Joseph Moran, Niall Gorry, Karl Denver, James Morrin, Eoghan Griffin, Colin McEntee, Micheal Skelton, & Adam Coyle, Kevin Mcloughlin and Niall O'Neill . Naas RFC member Patrick Keena was the Manager (2012-2015 ) of the Leinster U18 club side . * Leinster Girls ** Emily McKeown, Niamh Hederman, Romy Morin, Chantelle Vitoria, Aoife Hederman, Bev Mahon, Aisling Breslin, Maebh Obrien, Nollaig Maguire, Millie Sheridan, Emma Lackey, Mary Healy, Annie Maguire, Ali Miley, Casey O'Brien, Rachel Murtagh, Katie Maguire, Ellen Murray, Katie Ann O’Neill, Erin King

Success at Naas RFC

* Won the Provincial Towns Cup on 3 occasions – 2005, 1998, 1995 and appeared in the final on 10 occasions (Lost 1926, 1935, 1949, 1952, 1954, 1958, 1982). * Won the Cup and Leinster League double in 2005, 1998. * Won 2 Provincial Towns Plates – 1969 and 1981. * Provincial 2nd XV Cup – 4 wins, 1996, 1999, 2017, 2022 * Anderson Cup - Junior 3rds – 5 wins, 1996, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2014,2016 – joint top winners. * Dunne Cup - Junior 4ths – 6 wins (record number), 1980, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2005. * Leinster League Division 1 Champions – 4 wins, 1997/1998, 1999/2000, 2004/2005, 2006/2007. * ALL IRELAND PROVINCIAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS – 2000, 2007. * Hosie Cup (North Midlands J1) – 10 wins, 1981, 1982, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2007, 2022 * Lalor Cup (North Midlands J1) – 5 wins, 1978, 1995, 1999, 2000,2025. * Speirs Cup (North Midlands J3) – 4 wins, 1984, 1992, 1993, 1995. * Scully Cup (North Midlands J4) – 8 wins, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2011.

References

External links

* {{AIB League Rugby union teams in Ireland Rugby clubs established in 1922 Naas Rugby union clubs in County Kildare All-Ireland League rugby union clubs Leinster Senior League (rugby union) teams