Membership | Bruff Rugby Football Club

It’s that time of the year again folks, the summer (if you could call it that) is gasping it’s last breath as the days are getting shorter, and we’re back in full swing at Kilballyowen with training under lights having commenced for yet another year.

At this stage all age groups from Under 8’s to under 38’s J are all back training and we’re kicking off this weekend with all adult teams out.

Saturday we have the first round of the Munster Senior cup where we have had great success for the last two years with a win against Garryowen in the final two years ago leading on to that fabulous success at Bateman Cup All Ireland level. Last year we fell at the final hurdle to the same Garryowen and they repeated the feat bringing the cup back to Limerick for the second successive year.

First round this year takes us against a Cashel side that has become one of the success stories of the last few seasons. Like ourselves four years ago, they ran for the last season unbeaten and gained promotion on the back of a fantastic run in the UBL gaining division 2A status after only 12 months at 2B level. Another club that has reaped the rewards of a good underage system they have travelled up the Junior ranks over the last few years knocking at the door of the Senior ranks for a year or two prior to making that final leap.

From our point of view, our run in the league finished very strongly as we came out on top of games against three of the top four teams in our division in the second half of the season after a rough starting half, to finish up maintaining our status in Division 1B. It’s going to be a tight game with no quarter asked or given, it’ll be very interesting to see which side comes out on top, of course I’m rooting for Bruff. Kick off at 2:30pm on Saturday in Kilballyowen Park.

First round of the Munster Senior Seconds league takes place either Sunday or Monday night (Not fixed at the time of publication) and we have the J2 squad lining out in the McInerny cup against St. Senans on Saturday, again time TBC.

Just another note, we are accepting players at all levels from total beginners to experienced, from anyone who wants to play socially or who wants to get a little more serious, all squads from U20, J2 & J1 level are starting out afresh with anew season so if you fancy getting involved then why not just show up on a Tuesday or Thursday night from 7:00pm onwards.

Ladies are still taking in beginners and/or more experienced players, they are training on Monday and Friday evenings at 8:00pm after the fitness classes.

Friday evening there are two U14 squads with game against Glenstal, check the website for details.

As usual, underage training etc. at the usual times, contact the coaches at the various grades.

Keep an eye out on the website www.bruffrfc.com, facebook onwww.facebook.com/bruffrfc or twitter on www.twitter.com/bruffrfc for updates and fixture changes as the week progresses.

Isn’t the off season great? It allows for those of us that aren’t involved in trying to keep crazy fitness levels (like the players!) to unwind, relax a little and catch up with Non-rugby stuff, (Family, Work and other essentials like that). But just in case you think that club work ceases completely during the free time, remember that this time of year is when the maintenance work takes place on the pitches and the general club facilities.

We’re putting the final touches to the place to get everything ready for the 3rd “Bull N’ Booze” festival on the 25-26th of July, ready to pay “homage” to the Heineken Cup which will be in attendance. We’re also upgrading the shower areas a bit, as well as other general housekeeping work needed around the grounds. The Training pitch has been extended quite a bit and has also been sanded, levelled and re-seeded. Again all is being done by our brilliant Development Committee lads who took on the job following their great job in floodlighting the place. While it will not allow two full games to take place there at the same time, it will allow two separate training pitches by rotating the goals through ninety degrees. Great credit is due to Alan, Jimmy, Mick and Eoin and the rest of the lads involved in this from the beginning. We know that this is (yet again) another time of change and new challenges, with the promotion to Division 2, it’s great to know that we still manage to come up trumps when it comes to getting things done. It does help the financial end of things when we can do stuff ourselves, but it nearly always seems to be the same few people involved.

All members should be notified before the end of July about the new procedures for tickets etc. Again we would ask that members please give us email addresses and mobile phone numbers when sending in subscriptions. I know I’m repeating this but it is extremely important that we have as many means as possible of contacting members; the easier you can make it for us to get you information, the better for all concerned, (especially when it comes to tickets!).

Next meeting of the Bruff R.F.C. Executive committee will take place on Tuesday 8th July at 8:00 p.m.

Bruff Rugby Football Club

Heineken Cup tickets

Bull’N’Booze Update

Membership renewal open for 2008-09 season.