President Brian Hogan Captain(s) Kieran Moloney | Coach(es) David Mahon Founded 1883 | |
Unions Irish Rugby Football Union, Leinster Rugby | ||
Monkstown Football Club is an Irish rugby club based in Dublin, playing in Division 1A of the Leinster League.
Contents
In addition to the First XV, they also have Second (J2), Third (J3) and Fourth (J4) XV's, a mini rugby section and a Golden Oldies team.
History
The club was founded in 1883 in Monkstown as the name suggests, but moved to the Sandymount area in 1901 after leasing grounds at Sydney Parade from the Earl of Pembroke.
They have always had a military connection, with British Army soldiers among the players. In fact, many of their players were casualties in the Boer War and the First World War, including internationals Ernest Deane, Basil Maclear and Pierce O'Brien-Butler. Since Irish independence many servicemen - soldiers, sailors as well as airmen - have turned out for the club and Leinster provincial teams. The Irish Defence Forces team regularly play their French counterparts at Sydney Parade.
Monkstown have hosted a number of international teams over the years, such as Australia, when they won the World Cup in 1991.
They have played in the Leinster League since 2003 and only narrowly failed to qualify for Division Three of the AIB League after winning the league in 2005/06.