A TROPHY-LADEN year saw Bandon Rugby Club and Clonakilty Rugby Club’s cooperation with local schools benefit students, coaches and the overall quality of West Cork rugby.

As 2025 ends, the towns of Bandon and Clonakilty can reflect on a memorable 12-month period in both schools and club rugby. The synergy and strong links between clubs and schools in both towns is paying off. Students competing – and winning – at a high level in schools rugby are bringing that confidence back to their clubs, with a knock-on effect across all underage structures.

So, how did this connection develop – and why is it working so well as we move into 2026?

Bandon Grammar captain Mark Whelton powers forward against CBC in the Munster Schools Boys Junior Cup final at Virgin Media Park.

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In 2025, Bandon Grammar won their first-ever Munster Schools Junior Cup, overcoming Christian Brothers College 20–12. A glorious March moment. They were also crowned Pinergy School of the Year at the Munster Rugby Awards. Double celebrations.

There was success too for Hamilton High School: in only their second year playing competitive rugby, the Hammies defeated Villiers School (Limerick) 48–14 to claim the U19 Mungret Cup.

Alongside those school trophies, Bandon Rugby Club were crowned Munster Clubs Boys U18.5 Cup champions, defeating Old Christians at Virgin Media Park. Heady times for underage rugby in the town.

The co-operation between the club and its schools has never been clearer.

‘We have strong ties within our school with all West Cork clubs and not just Bandon,’ Bandon Grammar rugby co-ordinator Phillip Murphy says.

‘The decision to become an A-graded rugby school meant declaring our squads for Munster junior and senior competitions, so we had to work closely with clubs like Bandon RFC on sharing players throughout the school year.

‘I have to say Bandon and all the other West Cork clubs have been brilliant to us. When we won the Junior Cup, every single club contacted us to congratulate us. They felt a real sense of pride – almost a sense of ownership of their lads who’d come through their club and coaching systems.

‘Winning that cup meant so much to so many people around West Cork, not just in Bandon.’

That point is underlined by Bandon Grammar’s decision to hold training sessions around the region over the past 12 months.

‘Going out around West Cork and conducting school training sessions was another big positive,’ Murphy explains.

‘We trained loads of times with Clonakilty. They were really good sessions because we’d have our backs and forwards training against each other, developing various scenarios with them.

‘Bandon Grammar also trained with Dunmanway and, obviously, Bandon RFC as well. We took our junior boys and our senior girls team to Clonakilty. I think the co-operation has been brilliant and benefitted everyone.

‘If West Cork clubs are doing well, we are proud of them, of our students’ involvement, and vice versa.

‘Look, there are still rivalries between West Cork clubs and that won’t ever change. At the same time, Clonakilty RFC were one of the first onto us as soon as we won the Junior Cup.

‘Sharing coaching knowledge and developing players at schools level is definitely benefiting all West Cork schools and clubs.’

Sacred Heart captain Amie Millin lifts the trophy after their Munster Schools Girls Junior Cup final win.

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Clonakilty Rugby Club’s decision to spread the rugby gospel in Clonakilty Community College and Sacred Heart Secondary School has led to a major surge in interest and trophies in recent years.

In March, Sacred Heart signed off on another historic afternoon by claiming the Munster Schools Girls junior and senior cup titles for the second year running. Double-double delight.

Chairman Neville Burton and a dedicated committee have revamped Clonakilty’s Shannonvale grounds to meet growing demand from boys and girls across the area. Their work, combined with increased co-operation with secondary schools, has delivered improved coaching and consistent silverware.

‘An ex-player, Rob Barry, and a group of coaches helped get things up and running for the girls in Sacred Heart,’ Burton says.

‘We recognised that a large majority of those players were already with our club. Our pitches were made available to the school for training and it worked really well.

‘One of our players, Jack Phelan, who was teaching in the school, came in when Rob went out on paternity leave and carried things on. They had a great year because of the integration and cross-pollination of training and ideas.

‘The principals and teachers in both Clonakilty schools have gotten behind it and the success reflects that.’

Clonakilty Community College’s rugby journey is only beginning, but with support from Munster Rugby, the foundations are strong.

‘Another ex-first-team player, Michael Peter O’Regan, who teaches in the boys’ school, has been instrumental in taking things forward,’ Burton says.

‘Along with Clonakilty RFC coaches and Munster CCRO representatives, playing numbers – most of whom are already involved with the club – continue to rise.

‘There is a seamless connection with the club in terms of making our facilities, astroturf and pitches available. It is U15 and U16 at Munster Junior Cup level at the moment. The plan is to grow that organically into older schoolboys over the coming year.’

As in Bandon, Clonakilty RFC is focusing on its short-term future while strengthening ties with local schools. But the long-term work is already well under way, thanks to a decade of introducing rugby at national-school level.

‘There is such prestige around schools rugby right now and all our players love being involved in it,’ Burton says.

‘It’s a different challenge for them and both our club and schools are fully committed. Students are benefiting from playing in both competitions.

‘The Community College U16 boys got to a Junior Cup quarter-final last year which was unexpected and shows the positive trajectory.

‘As for the Sacred Heart girls, winning the double-double was phenomenal and there is still a great buzz around it.

‘Equally importantly, we have introduced rugby at national school level for the past ten years. This was originally Geoff Murphy’s brainchild, who brought in Finny O’Regan.

‘Every year Finny visits national schools in the area and runs an eight-week programme during September and October, with TY students from the secondary schools helping with coaching. This has been a massive boost to our minis set-up.

‘Our club continues to take a holistic approach to tying in with local primary and secondary schools. The benefits are there for all to see as more and more children are introduced to rugby.’