Young rugby player is off to south west France on scholarship from Tipperary school

Above: Matthew Ryan receives Clonmel High School’s Rugby Scholarship from Camida’s Paul Condon and Clonmel Rugby Club’s Tom Fennessey. Also included are Matthew’s parents Geraldine and Andrew Ryan, Principal Karen Steenson, High School Rugby Coordinator Brendan Mullan and High School rugby coaches Ciaran Burke and Luke Daly

This year’s Clonmel High School Rugby Scholarship has been awarded to TY student Matthew Ryan from Ballymacarbry.

This scholarship is run in conjunction with Camida Youth Academy at Clonmel Rugby Club. The aim of the scholarship is to promote rugby in the High School.

Matthew has played for successive High School rugby teams since First Year and is a member of the Clonmel Under 16 team.

He will spend ten days in Soustons near Biarritz in the south west of France during the summer, and where he will receive professional rugby coaching.

Matthew received his scholarship at the recent High School Awards Day from Clonmel Rugby Club’s Tom Fennessey and Camida’s Paul Condon. Matthew’s parents Geraldine and Andrew were also in attendance.

The scholarship was established in 2005 and since then High School students have travelled to France each year to participate in a fantastic sporting and cultural experience. This year’s scholarship was the first awarded since 2019, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sincere thanks are extended to Camida Youth Academy at Clonmel Rugby Club for supporting such a fantastic initiative, and to Paul Condon and Tom Fennessey (both High School past pupils) for presenting Matthew with his scholarship.

Congratulations Matthew, and bon voyage.

High School Rugby Awards
Congratulations to the following students, whose contribution to High School rugby was acknowledged at the recent School Awards Day -

Under 14
Players’ Player of the Year: Patrick Normile.
Coaches’ Player of the Year: Conall Morrisson.
Most Improved Player of the Year: Olan Doocey.

Under 15
Players’ Player of the Year: Rian Galko.
Coaches’ Player of the Year: Mbekezli Masuku.
Most Improved Player of the Year: Anthony Fitzgerald.

Under 16
Players’ Player of the Year: Sean Wall.
Coaches’ Player of the Year: Sam Maher.
Most Improved Player of the Year: Takky Ibrahim.

Under 19
Players’ Player of the Year: Liam Maher.
Coaches’ Player of the Year: Ben Masuku.
Most Improved Player of the Year: Tom O’Brien.

Past Pupils’ Visit
The High School was delighted to welcome back past pupils Conor Ryan, Jim Healy, Damien O’Keeffe and Dermot Poyntz from Clonmel Credit Union for the presentation of two new rugby kits for the Junior and Senior rugby teams.

It was a fantastic occasion to mark the High School’s strong links with the wider Clonmel community.

Sincere thanks are extended to Clonmel Credit Union for their ongoing support.