NAVAN RFC COMMENCE CENTENARY SEASON WITH VICTORY

Navan…………………………………. 21

Wanderers FC……………………… 19

Balreask Old, Navan  (Half-Time: 7-0)

Men’s 1st XV
Leinster Senior League – Section B  played Saturday 24th August.

Navan RFC’s Senior Men’s team began their centenary season with a hard-fought victory over Dublin’s Wanderers FC at Balreask Old in their opening home match of the 2024/2025 Leinster Senior League Section B. The match was the first competitive outing at home for Navan, who are celebrating their one hundredth season of on-field activity.

The game started with Navan showing intent after a strong pre-season. Despite the intensity, the first half remained tight, with the only score coming from Ben McEntagart, who crossed the try line after a brilliant 55-meter run, fending off two Wanderers players. Rory Gordon converted the try, giving Navan a 7-0 lead at the break.

The second half saw the game heat up as Wanderers responded with an unconverted try, narrowing Navan’s lead. The match became even more competitive, with several players from both sides spending time in the sin-bin. Wanderers capitalized on this, adding two converted tries to take the lead.

However, Navan fought back with determination. Jack Dixon sniped through Wanderers’ defense to score, with Gordon adding the conversion. Gordon then secured victory by converting his own try after benefiting from a well-placed grubber kick by substitute out-half Tom Gavigan.

Notable performances came from Evan Dixon and Rory Gordon in the backs, and Andy Beggy, Ben McEntagart, and Liam McAree in defense. Replacement back-rower David Brady impressed after coming on early for an injury cover, and former captain Bernard Smyth delivered a solid performance, showing his experience.

Navan will look to build on this momentum as they face Skerries away next Saturday, with the match set for a 3pm kick-off at Holmpatrick.

Navan RFC – Senior Men’s XV:
Liam Carroll, Gary Faulkner, Jordan Finney, Andy Beggy, Liam McAree, Harry Conlon, Bernard Smyth, Lazlo Pschorn, Jack Dixon, Evan Dixon, Cormac Horan, Ben McEntagart, Rory Gordon, Harry Devlin, Shane Walsh.

Replacements:
Dara McHugh, David Brady, Tom Gavigan, Simon Hogan, Sean McEntagart, Tommy Geraghty.

Women’s Exhibition Game

 Above; The Navan RFC Women’s Presidents & Captains XV’s that took part in the Women’s Exhibition game (Photo Supplied by Rosi Megan)

Preceding the Men’s match, an exhibition game was held between a Navan “President’s XV” and a Navan “Captain’s XV.”

The teams consisted of players from last season’s league and cup double-winning Senior Women’s 1st and 2nd teams, as well as new players and those moving up from the Under-18 level.

Both teams showcased their talent and competitive spirit, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead in Leinster Women’s League Divisions 2 and 4.

Navan RFC Launches “Centenary Season” with Historic Gathering

On Saturday afternoon, Navan Rugby Football Club marked the beginning of its “Centenary Season” with a special event at Balreask Old. Club Presidents and Captains, both past and present, gathered to celebrate 100 years of the club’s participation in organized Rugby Union Football. The event was attended by a host of invited guests, including Cllr Alan Lawes, Deputy Mayor of the Navan Municipal District, members of Meath County Council, and Jim Doddy, Senior Vice President of Wanderers FC, whose team faced Navan in the Leinster Senior League fixture that afternoon.

Navan RFC Club President Scott Ennis opened the event with a warm welcome to all attendees, including former Club Presidents, Captains, Women’s Captains, and Chairpersons. He gave special recognition to notable figures such as Tom Kelly and Robert Dier, club captains from the late 1960s and early 1970s, Jim Nugent and Paddy Tehan, Club Presidents from the mid-1970s and early 1980s, and Elizabeth “Liz” Oakes, Navan RFC’s first Ladies Captain in 2001/2002.

Ennis recounted the club’s origins, beginning in 1925, when it initially shared the Meath County Showgrounds with other local sports clubs. He highlighted key milestones, including the club’s survival through challenging periods around World War II, the acquisition of the Balreask Old grounds in the early 1960s, the formation of the youth section in the 1970s, and the development of women’s rugby at the turn of the century. He also noted the introduction of the Inclusive/Mixed Ability Rugby team in 2017 as a significant achievement.

Looking ahead, Ennis discussed the club’s plans to further enhance its facilities. Navan RFC is set to open a new gymnasium in a few weeks, located beside the existing clubhouse, to meet the strength and conditioning needs of its growing player base. Additionally, the club is working on pitch development, with plans to level the Oakleigh mini pitches and install improved drainage. The possibility of installing an artificial pitch is also being considered to ensure year-round playability, regardless of weather conditions.

Commemoration Events

Navan RFC has planned a series of special events throughout the season:

13th/14th September: The Club Challenge Day between Navan and Ashbourne, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary. This day will see every mini, youth, and several adult teams play, with the winning club taking home the inaugural Presidents Annual Club Challenge Cup.

24th November: Navan RFC Blue Dragons will host the Centenary “Rugby For All Blitz,” showcasing inclusive rugby.

9th December: The Centenary Corporate Xmas Lunch will take place at the Ardboyne Hotel.

4th January 2025: The club will celebrate Nollaig Na mBán, honoring the women of Navan RFC with a dinner, guest speakers, and dancing at the Newgrange Hotel.

7th February: The Annual Club Presidents Dinner will be held at the club.

9th May: The season will conclude with a Black Tie Centenary Gala Dinner, a grand event to wrap up the celebrations.

Navan RFC’s centenary season is set to be a memorable one, celebrating the rich history and bright future of the club with a series of events that bring together its community, past and present.

Navan Connections Continue in Interprovincial action

Former Navan RFC youth players Abby Moyles and Jade Gaffney made notable appearances in the third round of the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship on Saturday, representing Ulster and Leinster respectively. The match was particularly significant as it saw the two former Navan teammates facing off against each other at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast.

Abby Moyles, starting at out-half for Ulster, contributed two successful conversions, showcasing her skills and composure under pressure. On the other side, Jade Gaffney earned her first start at scrumhalf for Leinster following her senior debut off the bench last week against Munster. Despite Moyles’ efforts, Leinster emerged victorious with a dominant 39-14 win, securing their place in the Interprovincial Championship final where they will face Munster again next week.

In addition to Moyles and Gaffney, current Navan youth players Alex Carter and Katie Kearney also made significant contributions, representing Leinster U18 Men’s and U18 Women’s teams, respectively. Their involvement at the provincial level highlights the strong rugby foundation being built at Navan RFC, with players progressing to represent their provinces in key competitions.