These games will be part of a festival day of rugby against Boyne starting with the U 17s kicking off at 1.00, followed by the U 19s at 13.00 and culminating with the club 1 XV playing at 15.00.

 The Under 13s, coached by Willie Gribben & Matthew Wilson and the Under 15s, coached by Paul Galway & Andrew Matchett start their season on 4 September.

 Once again Portadown’s Youth Chairman has issued an invitation for all youth players to attend training at 7.00 each Monday & Thursday night. New players will be made especially welcome.

 Portadown field teams in the Ulster Youth Leagues in the following age groups:

Under 13s born 1998;  Under 15s born 1996/97;  Under 17s born 1994/95 & Under 19s born 1992/93

Portadown RFC’s Youth Rugby players are reminded that training for the new season for all four age groups (Under 13s -Under 19s)starts on Monday 2 August at 7.00p.m at Chambers Park.

The club hopes to build on last year’s successes particularly the Ulster Cup win of the Under 17s who defeated Belfast side Malone at Ravenhill last April. Last year 5 Portadown players also represented Ulster in the Under 18 Interprovincials & two of the current Youth players-Luke Montgomery & Kenny Anderson are in this season’s Ulster U 18 training squad. Nine of last year’s under 19 squad, which reached the semi final of the Nutty Krust Floodlit Cup, made their Senior club debuts last season. The continued development of these young players is crucial to the future of the club.

The Under 13 squad (players born in 1998) will be managed by Mark Uprichard and coached by Willie Gribben. 1XV prop Matthew Wilson, who is currently injured, will be forward’s coach for this squad. Matthew is a product of the PRFC Youth system.

The Under 15s (players born in 1996/97) will be coached by Paul Galway & Andrew Matchett both of whom are former Youth players.

The Under 17s (players born in 1994/95)will be coached by Ian Cooke (former Youth player); Gordon Forde & Ronan Quinn.

The Under 19s (players born in 1992/93)Manager is Paul Stevens and the squad will be coached by former 1XV players Darren Thompson & Barry Gribben.

The Youth coaches are hoping to see all last season’s players returning on Monday and will warmly welcome any new players especially those pupils from Clounagh, Killicomaine & Tandragee Junior High Schools who are transferring to Craigavon Senior High School in September.

For further information about Youth or mini rugby at Portadown RFC check the club website www.portadownrugbyclub.co.uk  or ring the club direct (0283833569).

Portadown RFC Under 12s have been invited to play in one of the two mini rugby exhibition games to be played at half time during the first ever rugby match to be played at the new Aviva Stadium (formerly Lansdowne Road). The opening match will feature young Academy players from Ulster and Leinster who will play against their Munster & Connacht counterparts.

During half time four mini rugby teams representing their Provinces will play – the young Portadown players will play against Buccaneers (Connacht) and Mullingar (Leinster) will play against Ballincollig (Munster).

Portadown were one of the first clubs in the Province to play mini rugby .Present club Youth Chairman & current IRFU Mini Rugby Chairman Willie Gribben, along with former Irish & Lions Number 8 Ronnie Lamont, first introduced mini rugby to Ulster in 1972 when their respective schools-Edenderry PS (Portadown) & Springhill (Belfast) – piloted the “new game!” Since then the game has grown enormously with practically all clubs in Ireland fielding mini rugby squads aged between 6 and 12.

The present squad came together at the start of the year and was mixture of two age groups due to new age regulations which meant the U 12 coaches were pretty much starting from scratch to build a new team.  Throughout the season the squad has developed and improved significantly resulting in strong credible performances at end of season tournaments.  They also hosted and defeated a very strong touring team from Ayr in early March.

Playing at the opening of the Aviva stadium is a fitting  end to mini rugby for these boys and should help keep their interest in the game as they progress through to youth rugby for the under 13’s next year.

The squad have been presented with a new set of commemorative jerseys for the game by club sponsor Wade Training.

The Portadown squad is: Jordan Chapman; Nathan Meredith ;Christopher Duggan;

Reece Somerville; James Wright;Thomas Gracey; Aaron Henderson; Mathew Wickham; Michael Orr;William Holden; Ross McCullough; Scott Tumelty

 Coaches: Phil Orr; Alan Wright & Bill Holden

** Participants – click here for Event Day Information **

** Promotional Video **

The rumours are true Portadown Rugby Club‘s Challenge is to host a TAG festival on the 26^th June for the participation and enjoyment of all members representing all sections of our club.  This Club Challenge Event will offer us the opportunity to showcase that we are a valuable asset as a sporting club to our local community.

This event will coincide with ‘Sport Comes 2 Town Event’ which will mean our club will be opening its doors to the public to show them exactly what we have to offer, and for this to be a success we will rely heavily on all our members from our eldest member to our youngest member!  We need you (everyone) to contribute and participate on this day!

Please take a minute to register your commitment to our TAG Event on the 26^th June by clicking on the link below:

 Registration Form – Click Here

Facebook Event Page

Schedule for the Day:

(Mini Rugby) U6 to U13 Games between 09:30am to 11:00 – please note Mini Rugby will also be representing our club at the Meadow Centre (teams to be advised when details become available)

(Tag Rugby) U15 to Senior Citizen between 12:00 to 16:30

Entertainment in our Club House to close the day

The Success of OUR CLUB Day Depends On YOU!

Mini Rugby Players, Parents and Coaches closed their season in typical sporting community fashion and it was a real credit to everyone who took part on the big day.

Saturday 24^th April was blessed with great weather along side energy and enthusiasm aplenty, which was a recipe for a cracking day.  Following games and play, PRFC parents treated everyone in attendance to hot dogs and burgers with the all important prize giving that followed.

If PRFC Mini Rugby begins next season as it closed this one – a very successful bright future beckons!  2009-2010 prize winners are detailed below in addition a few pictures taken on the day can also be viewed.

(Please note the next date in the Mini Rugby Calendar is Saturday 26^th June – which will consist of a family day of rugby games amongst our members – more details to follow in coming weeks so please continue to review this site – Thank you)

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Portadown U 17s, sponsored by local firms MODERN MEATS & WHITEHAVEN OFFICE SUPPLIES, will travel to Belfast to take on a strong Malone team in the show piece under 17 final in what promises to be a very good game given that the sides have met twice already this year with the honours shared. Both league matches were highly competitive affairs with both sets of players displaying good team work and a lot of high quality individual performance were also on show.

 Portadown’s preparations for the final have gone well and last weekend’s trip to Scotland were they played two hard matches against under 19 opposition from Biggar Rugby Club and Darlington Rugby Club gave the young locals the perfect platform to approach the final in confident form.

Coaches Ian Cooke and David Mc Master have been delighted with performances to date and know that the match with Malone will present the squad with their toughest game of the season. However they are confident of the ability of the players within their squad and will look to experienced Ulster Under 18 players Craig Fyffe & Luke Montgomery to show leadership and help settle any early nerves.

The front five will have a vital role to play in securing good quality first phase possession and players like Jordan Fiddes, Steven Coll, Robert Morton, Johnny Herron, Aaron Mc Alinden and Ryan Stevenson are all perfectly capable of providing this. The back row, with players like Stuart Lyness, Matthew Davison & number eight Montgomery, are good at the breakdown and Montgomery in particular carries a threat that Malone will be well aware of.

In the back line out half Robbie Thompson has been a key player with his place kicking adding to the team’s try scoring ability. Jonny White & Kenny Anderson are the potential danger men out wide with their pace.
The team as a whole would like to thank parents, family and friends for their support in the games leading to the final as it has really spurred them on. In the knowledge that Malone will have a very large and vocal support it is hoped many club members will join the families and friends to cheer on the players of the future of the club as they take on Belfast opponents, Malone.

The team will leave Chambers Park at 11:00am on Saturday morning so if you can’t make the game come along and give the lads a hearty send off. Kick-off at Ravenhill is 13:30hrs.