It’s that time of year again, when the young men of Clongowes don the purple and white to represent the school on the rugby field. While this has been happening since the boys returned to school last August there is nothing to quicken the pulse quite so much as the sight of 15 young men striding out on to the pitch ready to give their all for the school in the Leinster Senior and Junior Cups.
Clongowes was successful in the Senior Cup at the first time of asking in 1926 but that was not to be repeated at senior level until 1978 (see here), since when the older boys have won the competition on seven more occasions (1978, 1988, 1991, 1998, 2000, 2010 and 2011). We did not enter the Junior Cup until 1944, when we also won the trophy at the first attempt. An appropriately ‘purple’ patch followed with further victories in 1947, 1949 and 1952 but, despite four more final appearances over the next six decades success was not to be experienced again at this level until 2008.
The latest instalment of both of these historic competitions is almost upon us with the senior boys in action at the end of January and the juniors playing four days later (details below). The ‘23rdman’ (this means you!) has always been an integral part of the cup campaign and so we encourage you to come along and support the boys as they get the purple machine rolling along the roads to the RDS and Donnybrook in March.
All together now… ‘Womba! Womba! Womba!
SENIOR CUP
First Round: Clongowes Wood College 20: Wesley College 7
Full report and picture gallery here
Quarter Final v CBC Monkstown: Thursday, February 14th, Donnybrook: 15.00.
JUNIOR CUP
First Round: Clongowes Wood College 18: Castleknock College 14
Full report and picture gallery here
Quarter Final v Newbridge College: Wednesday, February 27th, Donnybrook: 15.00.
