Ards
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6 Conway Square, Newtownards, BT23 4DD
representative, and now Honorary
Secretary since I joined the club (I live
in Newtownards) in 1976 from Queens
University Belfast. I was attracted to the
club, not only because it was my local
club, but also because I recognised it as
a club on the way up.
This proved to be a good move
as I was part of the team that gained
promotion to the Ulster Senior League
in 1978, I played in most of their trophy
winning sides, I was involved with the
Ulster Provincial Team in the years
before ‘professional’ rugby, all of which
encouraged me to try something new in
the sport (I went on to be a referee for
two years in the late 1990s before injury
took its toll).
RC: What are the most challenging and
rewarding aspects of your role?
IW: The most challenging aspect
of my role as Honorary Secretary is
keeping up with the huge amount of
bureaucracy coming from our governing
body that requires to be addressed. Like
all aspects of life, it seems to be all about
accountability and regulation (keeping
all the boxes ticked). However, if in some
small way I can contribute to my club’s
return to the glory days it will have been
worthwhile.
RC: How’s the general mood down at
the club at the moment?
IW: Despite having struggled for
the last six/seven seasons the players,
coaches and officials are in good spirits,
particularly as we now see signs of
making a recovery both on and off the
pitch. The club has ambitious
plans in place to build
a new pavilion and
‘state of the art’
playing pitches
which it is
hoped
will
be given the
go
ahead
in the not
too distant
future.
RC:
What
are
your
plans for the
rest of 2017?
IW: It is our
ambition this year to
at least consolidate the
position of our adult and youth
teams in their league competitions and
perhaps get back to winning some
silverware. Despite, not performing well
at the higher levels, our 3rd XV our U16s
were successful in league and cup rugby
a couple of seasons ago and we look to
them to inspire us to do the same higher
up the echelons.
RC: How important is youth rugby to
the club?
IW: The development of
youth is very important
and we have a long
history of mini and
age-grade rugby
in the club,
dating back
to the late
80s/early
90s.
Like
many clubs
in Ulster it
has
been
difficult to
manage the
transition
from mini to
youth rugby, i.e.
under 11s to under
13s, as many players
go on to grammar schools
which have rugby as one of their
core sports.
However, with a well organised
Youth Development system, recently
facilitated by the appointment of
www.rugbyclubmag.com
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