Two neighbouring town display rugby at its best!

ALTHOUGH Roscrea RFC plays its rugby in Leinster, it is based in North Tipperary, on the Munster side of the provincial border.

Only 15km away, Birr RFC, Leinster’s western most club is situated in South Offaly. Both play in Division 2B of the Leinster League. They are close neighbours, historic rivals and they share a geographical and demographic hinterland. Fixtures between the two clubs have always been heated and passionate with an almost tribal like element to the encounters. League standing, family connections, friendships and league form are all put to one side whenever the two clubs meet, and spectators are invariably treated to a raucous and full blooded gladiatorial battle.

Historically, this competitive rivalry has filtered down through to the youths and underage teams, with families, school friends and neighbours choosing their side for the yearly clashes. Birr and Roscrea Rugby Clubs have always observed an innate mutual respect. Although stern rivals on the field, there has always been the understanding that the two clubs have successfully co-existed, within the same rural community with an overlapping and intersecting demographic in terms of their support and their player production lines.

When the brave decision was taken to join forces at both Girls and Boys youths’ level, when player numbers meant that the two clubs were stronger together, the Ravens franchise was born, with the subsequent merger creating something far greater than the sum of its parts. This mutually beneficial amalgamation owes its success not just to the players but also to the coaches pioneering, steering and driving it forward.

This is where perhaps the greatest anomaly has presented itself, as the Ravens are coached in part by current senior club players. When Roscrea met Birr in Division 2B of the Leinster League in January, one fifth of the players were Ravens coaches. Comrades on the training ground became fierce rivals on the pitch.

Roscrea club captain Kieran Stone and his brother Ger Stone coach the Ravens U-15 boys team, while Padraic Burns of Birr is head coach of the Ravens U-14s girls team. Birr’s Denis Rusu coaches the Ravens U-16s boys team alongside Roscrea’s Paddy Walsh. Birr’s Alan Guinan coaches the Ravens boys under 18 team.

As such it is no surprise that the Ravens project optimises the very best traits of both parent clubs and upholds the finest virtues of rugby. It is a culmination of many things with humility, dedication, commitment, and integrity at its core. This sense of being part of something special has empowered the players, the clubs and the coaches to work together, to create the building blocks for a lasting positive partnership. This is community at its beautiful best, this is rugby!