Youths celebrate successful season

On Wednesday past players and coaches gathered to celebrate their success with their annual awards dinner.

This season looked grim in September with the U17 side being the only side who could get a regular XV together. Despite poor numbers at the start, momentum began to grow and the club now boasts 3 full youth sides as well as an U19 squad.

This is not only down to the local schools like Ballymoney High School who supply the bulk of the players but down to schools like Ballycastle High School, St Paul's Kilrea, Dominican College Portstewart and Slemmish College to name a few.

There is good atmosphere among the youth set up and a real desire amongst the boys to develop as both as players and as teams.

For the standard and quality amongst the youth we have to look at the U17 side who, this year for the first time won their league and got to the semi finals of both the Ulster Play off and the U17 League Cup. The quality within the side is also reflected in the amount of boys who have been at development side trials and are pushing on into the ranks of Ulster U18s and U16s. Jordan Munnis, Leon Beattie, Russell Blair and Phil Doherty to name a few of the boys who have achieved these honours. These boys have set down a marker for their team mates and their younger club men which will be something for the boys to strive for over the next year, to emulate their success.

Looking on to next year, we will be looking to build on the momentum we have going this year and build on our success. Training for the Youth sides will start again in late September and if anyone is interested in getting involved with either coaching a youth side or being part of a youth side please get in touch with the Rugby Club.