Wanderers F.C. (rugby union)
| Full name | Wanderers Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Union | IRFU Leinster | |
| Nickname(s) | The Chaps; | |
| Founded | 1870 | |
| Region | County Dublin | |
| Ground(s) | Lansdowne Road Ballsbridge Dublin 4 Merrion Road Ballsbridge Dublin 4 | |
| President | Neil Metchette | |
| League(s) | AIL Div 2B | |
| ||
Wanderers Football Club is a senior rugby union club based in Dublin, Ireland, playing in Division 2B of the All-Ireland League.[1] It is one of the oldest rugby clubs in Ireland,[2][3] however its exact date of foundation is open to question. In 1860 a team by the name of Wanderers played against Dublin University. However the current team gives its foundation date as 1870. While the link between the two teams is unclear, they both seem to have been founded by former Dublin University players.[4][5] In 1879 Wanderers were among the founding members of the Irish Rugby Football Union. They have also regularly provided international players for Ireland, including five captains. In 1959, Ronnie Dawson also went on to captain the British and Irish Lions. They have also provided one captain each for both England and Australia.
Since 1880 Wanderers have shared Lansdowne Road with Lansdowne Football Club, with each club having their own clubhouse at opposite ends of the ground. However, since 1974 the ground itself has been owned by the IRFU.[6]
Notable players
[edit]Ireland
[edit]At least 87 Wanderers players have represented Ireland. These include the following:
- Ned Byrne
- Paddy Kenny
- Thomas Crean
- Ronnie Dawson
- Tony Ensor
- Kevin Flynn
- Mike Gibson
- Bob Graves
- Gary Halpin
- Frederick Harvey
- Robert Johnston
- Ronnie Kavanagh
- Phil Matthews
- Robbie McGrath
- Paul McNaughton
- Andy Mulligan
- Paul Murray
- Jack Notley
- Bethel Solomons
- Mark Sugden
- Kelvin Leahy
- Joseph Wallace
- Freddie McLennan
British and Irish Lions
[edit]As well as representing Ireland, several Wanderers players have also represented the British and Irish Lions.[3] These include:
- Andrew Clinch: 1896
- Thomas Crean: 1896
- Robert Johnston: 1896
- Robertson Smyth: 1903
- Joseph Wallace: 1903
- James Wallace: 1903
- Paul Murray: 1930
- Bob Graves: 1938
- Ronnie Dawson: 1959
- Andy Mulligan: 1959
- Mike Gibson: 1966, 1968, 1971, 1974, 1977
Other internationals
[edit]
Ireland coaches
[edit]Victoria Cross
[edit]Three former Wanderers players and Ireland internationals have also been awarded the Victoria Cross. Crean and Johnston served with the British Army during the Second Boer War while Harvey served with the Canadian Army during the First World War.[8]
Honours
[edit]- Leinster Senior League
- Winners: 1885, 1888, 1894 1906, 1911, 1947, 1954, 1959, 1973, 1978, 1982, 1984, 1990: 13
- Leinster Senior Cup
- Winners: 1973, 1976, 1979, 1985, 1990 : 5
- Leinster Club Senior League Shield
- Winners: 2014-15: 1
- Metropolitan Cup
- Winners: 1924, 1954, 1986, 1987, 1992: 5
References
[edit]- ^ "Wanderers back in big time thanks to flawless campaign". independent.
- ^ "www.irishrugby.ie". Archived from the original on 12 December 2013.
- ^ a b The Ireland Rugby Miscellany (2007): Ciaran Cronin
- ^ "DUFC | Trinity Rugby". DUFC | Trinity Rugby. Archived from the original on 25 December 2008.
- ^ "www.wanderers.ie". Archived from the original on 11 January 2009.
- ^ "Theatre of Green: Gaelic games end a century of separatism". The Independent. 22 October 2011.
- ^ "www.wanderers.ie". Archived from the original on 12 January 2009.
- ^ "The Times & The Sunday Times". www.thetimes.co.uk.
- ^ "www.wanderers.ie". Archived from the original on 12 January 2009.