The Royal Belfast Academical Institution

Rugby

Schools cup winners 2023

For up-to-date information on the Rugby Club, please follow our Facebook page below.


Rugby Fixtures 2023-2024

Click the link provided below to access the RBAI Rugby Fixtures for 2023-2024

RBAI Rugby Fixtures 2023-2024


History

Rugby is one of the major winter sports played at RBAI and has been played formally since 1872. The Ulster Schools’ Cup was introduced in 1876 - overall RBAI have reached 58 finals, won the Cup 33 times and shared it on 4 occasions. The Medallion (Under 15) competition was introduced in 1910 and RBAI have competed in 53 finals, winning 35 times and sharing the trophy on 3 occasions.

Of most recent note was the success of the 2022-23 1st XV and Medallion Squad who won the Schools’ Cup and Medallion Shield respectively. In 2014/15 RBAI had the treble success of the 1st XV who won the Schools’ Cup in 2014/15 and retained it for the next two years.


2022-23 Schools’ Cup Winners

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2022-23 Medallion Shield Winners

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Ulster Schools

Each year RBAI is very well represented in the Ulster Schools’ Squads at both Under 19 and Under 18 level, with many of these boys going on to represent Irish Schools’.


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Jacob Boyd and Bryn Ward represent Ireland U19 in April 2023 vs. Japan U19.


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Rory Ellerby, Bryn Ward and Jacob Boyd represent Ulster U19 in 2022 Interprovincial series.


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Representatives of Ulster Schools’ U18 in the 2022 Interprovincial series.


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Representatives of Ulster U17 Schools’ in 2022 fixtures vs. EIRA.


Pupils have also regularly gone on to play for Ulster – recent examples being Michael Lowry and James Hume who left RBAI in 2017. Most notably Inst is Ireland’s leading school in the production of senior International players and British and Irish Lions. To date, RBAI has produced 85 Internationals and 13 Lions, 2 of whom were captains, Sammy Walker in 1938 and Robin Thompson in 1955. In terms of rugby administration, 20 former pupils have been President of the Ulster Branch and 10 have been President of the IRFU.

Past pupils James Hume and Michael Lowry have become our most recent Internationals, with James earning his first cap vs. USA in July 2021 and Michael earning his first cap vs. Italy the 2022 Six Nations.


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Past Pupils James Hume and Michael Lowry after representing Ireland vs. Italy in the 2022 Six Nations.


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Past Pupils representing Ulster Rugby. L-R Mr D Soper, Michael Lowry, Callum Reid, James Hume, David McCann, Robert Lyttle and Kyle Alexander.


Rugby at RBAI

RBAI strives for success in excellence and participation and to enhance the sense of identity in each player. Rugby at RBAI aims to;

“Foster an enthusiasm for Rugby in an environment where continuous improvement enables players to achieve their highest potential, both individually and collectively.”

In addition to promoting sporting excellence, the Rugby Club is also proud of its inclusive approach with close to 300 boys representing teams each Saturday. RBAI has a particularly strong fixture list - playing against local competitors in Ulster as well as schools in Leinster and Munster.

The Rugby Club Development Pathway aims to develop players across 4 main areas:

  • Technical (Skillset)
  • Tactical
  • Physical (Condition)
  • Psychological (Mental Skills

For up-to-date information on the Rugby Club, please follow our Facebook page by clicking:

https://en-gb.facebook.com/pages/category/School-Sports-Team/RBAI-Rugby-1376901265882348/


Staff List 2022-23:

Director of Rugby

Mr J. Kirk

1st XV

Mr J. Kirk

Mr R. Hedley

2nd XV

Mr P. Sheppard

Colts XV

Mr M. Mairs

Seniors XV

Mr P. McLernon

5th XV

Mr R. Menown

Medallion ‘A’ XV

Mr G. Monteith

Medallion ‘B’ XV

Mr J. Peak

Medallion ‘C’ XV

Mr L. Kaprigiannis

Mr J. Patterson

Under 14 ‘A’ XV

Mr D. Lambe

Under 14 ‘B’ XV

Mr A. Scott

Under 14 ‘C’ XV

Mr A. Douglas

Under 13 ‘A’ XV

Mr D. O’Neill

Mr McMullan

Under 13 ‘B’ XV

Mr S. McMullan

Mr J. Wilson

Under 13 ‘C’ XV

Mr J. Wilson

Under 12 squads

Mr A. Allen

Mr Lyttle

Strength & Conditioning

Mr S. Thompson

Oct
07 2024
Year 11 Parents Information Evening
Oct
08 2024
Year 8 Parents' Coffee Afternoon
Oct
10 2024
Battlefields Trip
Oct
10 2024
MFL Sixth Form trip
College Square East, Belfast, Co. Antrim, BT1 6DL
Tel: 028 90 240461
© 2024 The Royal Belfast Academical Institution