About Navan Rugby Club
For over a hundred years, Navan Rugby Football Club has been a cornerstone of our community, embodying the enduring values of sportsmanship, commitment, and camaraderie. Founded in 1925, we are proudly marking our Centenary, a historic milestone celebrating a century of rugby tradition and community spirit.
From humble beginnings at the Meath County Showgrounds, thanks to visionary founders including Willie Sullivan, W.M. Kirk, Nat Lacey, Matt and Charlie Crinion, Jack Finnegan, J. Gibney, and Bobby Byrne, we have grown into one of Ireland’s largest and most vibrant clubs with over 1,100 members.
Our Purpose (The North Star)
Our guiding principle is simple yet ambitious: to be the best rugby club in Ireland, both on and off the field. This North Star directs every decision and action within the club.
A Club for Everyone
We are proud to be one of the largest clubs in the country, with over 1,100 members. Our strength lies in our diversity and commitment to inclusivity, including:
- Senior Men’s Teams: Fielding 4 teams, with our 1st XV competing in the Energia All-Ireland League Division 2B, plus teams competing in Leinster leagues, cups, the Provincial Towns Cup, and an U20 team.
- Senior Women’s Teams: Fielding 3 teams across Leinster Women’s Leagues, including our 1st XV team in Division 1, and notably, we are one of the few clubs to regularly field three senior women’s teams concurrently.
- Youth & Minis: Boys’ and girls’ youth and minis sections, ensuring every child gets to play. We have over 600 members under 18, competing in Leinster League and Cup competitions.
- Inclusive Rugby: Proudly growing our Blue Dragons inclusive rugby team.
- Social Rugby: Social Tag for those who want to enjoy rugby in a relaxed, social setting.
- Coaching: All our coaches are qualified to IRFU standards. We actively support aspiring coaches and mentors through the official coaching pathway.
- Referees: The club has a proud tradition of developing referees and supports anyone wishing to take up officiating.
There is truly an opportunity for everyone to get involved, whether competitively or socially. We are committed to being an open, Meath community-based rugby club that welcomes all players, members, and parents.
Our Values: The Navan Rugby Experience – Our Values
The club’s values ensure we maintain a positive and thriving environment:
- Respect: Deep respect for the history of the club, for each other, and for our opponents.
- Volunteerism: We value and appreciate the voluntary contributions made by every person in the club.
- High Standards: We set and maintain high standards of achievement, discipline, and values, encouraging a professional attitude in everything we do.
- Inclusivity: We respect individuality, embrace diversity, and leverage personal strengths for mutual benefit.
- Enjoyment: Above all, we strive to ensure everyone enjoys the Navan Rugby Experience, while actively promoting the club to players, officials, sponsors, supporters, and the local community.
Our Vision: Future Excellence
As we celebrate our centenary and look to the future, our vision is to consistently elevate Navan RFC in every aspect:
- Competitive Excellence: Always aspiring to the next level, elevating our men’s and women’s teams to compete at the highest possible standards.
- Developing Talent: Promoting an effective and winning style of rugby at all levels, one that is consistently coached, rewarding to play, and exciting to watch. We aim to inspire every mini and youth player, coaching them to their full potential while instilling a deep understanding of the game’s values.
- Financial Strength: Maintaining financial independence to sustain and grow our club.
Partnering for Success
Reaching this centenary milestone is a testament to the decades of dedication from our players, coaches, members, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters. Our sponsors play an indispensable role in achieving financial independence, allowing us to invest in top-quality coaching and facilities.
To learn how your organisation can become a partner in enabling dreams and building future champions at Navan RFC, please view our Sponsorship section on this site.
Quick Facts
- Full name: Navan Rugby Football Club
- Union: IRFU
- Province: Leinster
- Founded: 1925
- Ground: Balreask Old, Navan, Co. Meath, C15 EK63
- President: Eddie Lyons
- Chairman: Stephen Mackarel
- Director of Rugby: Karl Hogan
- Men’s Head Coach: Ryan Roberts
- Men’s Captain: Conor Hand
- Women’s Head Coach: Jackie Shiels
- Women’s Captain: Anna Bolger
Come visit us at Balreask Old, whether to play, coach, volunteer, support, or simply enjoy the game. Join us as we build the next chapter in Navan RFC’s proud history!