#TAKETHENEXTSTEP WITH US
Queen's University Rugby Football Club was founded in 1869, originally fielding Queen's College, Belfast and have won the Ulster Senior Cup a record 26 times.
In 1993 when the AIB League was expanded to four divisions with forty six senior clubs, five university clubs, including Queen's, joined the league. Queen's entered Division Four and have played in every division since then.
In 2000 they were relegated to the Ulster Senior League but returned to the AIB League two years later. The men’s senior team will play in Division 1B of the Energia All-Ireland League winning promotion from 2A in the 22-23 Season also winning the Ulster Senior Cup in 2022.
QUB have entered a formal strategic pathway partnership with Ulster Rugby providing more opportunities for our students to play at the highest level within the province whilst maintaining academic achievements also.
The women’s game has grown significantly at Queen’s in recent seasons are our women’s firsts were unbeaten in league rugby in the 2020-21 Season and winning the womens Junior Cup in 2022 and has been recognised by the IRFU and now host the Ulster womens national pathway programme at the University.
More information on QUBRFC can be viewed here.
QUB aims to provide opportunities and incentives for prospective students to excel and aspire for greater academic and sporting success, to enjoy an enriching experience and provide opportunities for learning and development across a broad range of disciplines and degrees whilst allowing the students to combine their sporting aspiration and responsibilities within their academic requirements.
The Rugby Academy at Queen`s University was established in 2002, not only to provide a high-performance culture for rugby, but also to support the wider strategic objectives for sport at the University in promoting recreational and community initiatives and contribute to the overall development of all aspects of University Rugby.
Students can avail of a range of support structures which include end-of-year bursaries based on performance, clothing, complimentary gym access, sports psychology, high-performance coaching, and a bespoke strength and conditioning programme from renowned practitioner Mike McGurn at our first-class Upper Malone facility. Queen’s Sport has also recently teamed up with Kingsbridge Private Hospital to provide the very best in physio and injury rehabilitation, through our Academy physio Shea McAleer.
For more information contact our Rugby Development Officer David Chambers: d.chambers@qub.ac.uk
Rugby Academy Criteria 2023/2024
The Sports Development Team at Queen’s Sport will be co-ordinating the support structure for all scholarship recipients and aim to make this achievement as beneficial as possible. This award entitles you to a number of benefits, which are coordinated by the Head Rugby Coach. You will be required to follow the training programme maintain the Academy performance standards as set out by the Head Rugby Coach.
Men’s Academy (Stipend up to £1500)
- Proven record at School’s Cup level including excellent references from school coach
- Age grade representation at Provincial /National level for school or club system.
- Representation at Ulster Junior Level and or Proven record of success at senior club level
Each full academy member will be supported in the following:
- Personal, specific athletic development programmes throughout the season
- Potential Bursary rewards on completion of season
- Academic mentoring and flexibility with course requirements
- Lifestyle and time management mentoring
- Physiotherapy and sports medicine support on a needs analysis
- All-inclusive membership to all indoor and outdoor sports facilities at Queen’s Sport
- Bespoke training and leisure clothing
- Bespoke, personal Sports nutrition advice and supplements where applicable
- Degree Plus accreditation (route A) upon full completion of Academy programme
Sub Academy (no stipend)
Queen’s Sport recognises that some athletes on the Performance Pathway may not meet all of the full academy criteria. Those who meet the below will be considered for the Rugby Sub Academy:
- First XV player in competitive school’s rugby
- School’s Cup rugby experience or Standout player in Ulster Clubs system (U18)
- Aspirations to become first XV player in All Ireland League for QUB
Inherent in the Academy structure within Queen’s Sport is the opportunity for Sub Academy athletes to achieve Academy status over the course of the year and to avail of the additional benefits that entails. Each Sub Academy member will benefit as follows:
- Complimentary Off-Peak Membership to the PEC sports facilities at Queen’s Sport
- Specific athletic development programmes throughout the season constituent of gym and water based components
- The potential to move to Academy status dependant on performance within the club
- Opportunity to apply for support through individual aspects of Academy programmes, to be considered on merit and performance
- Opportunity to avail of Queen’s Sport tutored programmes
Women’s Academy (Stipend up to £1500)
- Proven Record in Danske Bank X7s Schools Cup
- Represented Ulster U18 in Interpro Series
- Potential to play for Ulster Senior Women
Female athletes who apply will be considered for sub or full academy status after review by RDO with Ulster female Coaching staff and school /club coaches.
Benefits of the programme will be the same as previously listed depending on what level they enter at.
Sub Academy & Academy Player Standards
Queens Sport and QUBRFC expect a high level of commitment to the Rugby Programme from Pre-season right through to the completion of all fixtures. During this period it’s expected that best effort is made to attend all sessions and good levels of communication is kept with Manager and Head coach.
Rugby Academy athletes are considered leaders within their peer environments and ambassadors for Queen’s Sport and the University. You are selected with this in mind.
Attendance in the following is key during your time in Academy programme:
· Training Nights (Tuesday & Thursday ) and match days (Saturdays)
· S&C sessions minimum x 2 / week (1 supervised)
· Review sessions with RDO & Coaches.
· Best effort to be available for any Club promotion days (I.e., Fresher’s Fayre) and also help where needed at any community outreach programme or Coaching , Schools, U20s and Female organised by RDO.
The QUEEN’S RUGBY ACADEMY supports our best and most promising rugby players in both the men’s and women’s codes. It is supported by a foundation named in honour of the Queen’s, Ireland, and Lions great Jack Kyle (1926-2014), who studied Medicine at Queen’s, graduating in 1951. Kyle was capped 46 times by Ireland, winning the Five Nations Grand Slam in 1948. He starred in the 1950 Lions Tour to Australia and New Zealand, scoring tries in the first test against New Zealand and in a 24-9 win over Australia.
Brian O’Driscoll with Jack Kyle in 2009
“He [played] club rugby for the North of Ireland club in Belfast until the early 1960s when he went to Indonesia for a short time, thence to Chingola, Zambia where for several decades he was the sole surgeon in a hospital of several hundred beds. Some people him knew him speculated as to why he did this; one view is that during Lions tours he was affected by serious poverty he witnessed, while another source reported him as saying that he was known as a rugby player but wanted to do more than just that. He retired and returned to Ulster where he settled in Bryanstown, County Down.
He was held in the highest esteem and not alone by his fellow players. A man who could plausibly challenge him as the greatest fly-half, Cliff Morgan of Wales, reckoned that Kyle was the best opponent he ever faced – a compliment returned by Kyle. Bob Scott, the great All Black, against whom Kyle scored a famous try at Dunedin on the British Lions tour of 1950, said: “Of all of them there has never been, nor ever was, anyone to touch him.” However, in a perverse tribute, Kyle was singled out by the All Blacks for especially rough treatment, once being kicked mercilessly in front of the stand in the Auckland Test.
His honours included an OBE, an honorary doctorate from Queen’s University, membership of the International Rugby Board’s Hall of Fame, and a lifetime achievement award from the Royal Academy of Medicine of Ireland. In 2002 the Irish Rugby Football Union voted him in a poll the greatest-ever Irish rugby player, a considerable compliment, elevating him above such giants as Mike Gibson, Willie John McBride and Brian O’Driscoll.”
Richard Froggatt, ‘Jack Kyle’ in The Dictionary of Ulster Biography (2020).
Donate here.
