New Rugby Season Kicks Off

Clonakilty RFC kick off their new season 2009-2010 with a visit to The Meteor Munster Sevens in Cork this Saturday. This is the third year of the tournament and last year, in Limerick, the squad put up a very creditable performance and were unlucky not to contest the final stage of the tournament. There will be a different squad out this weekend with a number of new faces expected to make their debuts. The event is being run off in Highfield RFC from noon to 6.00pm and Clonakilty are expected to field at 1.00pm against Dolphin. Garryowen and UCC complete this “easy” group stage for the West Cork club. The top thirteen senior teams in the province will battle it out for the cup and every Munster county will have representation as 16 Junior clubs and seven Ladies sides will contest their categories. With Sevens now an official Olympic event will we see any of the Irish Rugby Sevens Team for the 2016 event emerge here?
Props Conor Ford (ex Highfield and Ballincollig) and Tom Ryan (ex Cork Constiturtion) are training with the squad and New Zealander Out Half Kurt Morath from Taranaki is expected to commence training with his new team mates on this Thursday night at 7.15pm. Liam Swanton, who was such a promising player at under age, has returned to the club from UCC but injury sustained in the USA during the summer will delay his start.
This weekend, as part of the Clonakilty Carnival celebration of the 20th anniversary of Craic na Coillte, there will be a Monster Fancy Dress BBQ with Disco by DJ FiLo, Air Tattooing and the usual dollop of Craic in The Vale on Saturday night. A Shuttle Bus from Pearse Street will operate from 10.45pm. The proposed Family Day has been postponed to Saturday 12th September. This will be a big day at the club with Underage Registration taking place followed by the visit of the most successful All Ireland League side Shannon for a cup tie with Clonakilty at 2.30pm.