MY CLUB: BUCCANEERS
The Bounty,
Dubarry Park,
Clonbrusk,
Athlone,
Co Westmeath.
rugby@dubarrypark.com
By Daire Walsh
BUCCANEERS may have endured some frustrating on the way to a mid-table finish in Ulster Bank League Division 1B this season, but Club President Ray Fagan remains very hopeful for next year and beyond.
Having reached a promotion/relegation play-off last year, which they lost to Ballynahinch, the 2014/15 campaign has seen Buccs struggling for consistent results. However, as Fagan states, they will be determined to make amends next season.
“We had a couple of targets this year. One was to get our second team up from Division 1B in Connacht. That we did. They won Division 1B and have returned to top flight junior rugby in Connacht,” Fagan explained.
“Then the first team, of course, our ambitions were to get up (to Division 1A), but just a couple of narrow results went the wrong way on us early on. The odd point here and there was a loss instead of a win and we sort of ended up mid-table, but we intend to bounce back for next season.”
Originally from Dublin, Fagan first linked up with Buccaneers RFC shortly after their formation in 1994. Before assuming his current role, he was also heavily involved in coaching throughout the town of Athlone.
“I first became involved with Buccaneers 20 years ago. I’m involved in rugby since I was in school in Dublin. I married a girl from Athlone, and we moved down here a number of years after we got married. My two sons took up mini-rugby and that’s how I got involved with Buccaneers.
“It’s a one year stint as Club President. Prior to that, I was Chairman of Football. I would have been involved as an assistant coach to the first team with John McKee about ten years ago. With Geoff Moylan, I coached the Under-20s. I coached various underage sides and I coached the Marist Senior Cup team for a couple of years.”
Although the domestic scene does provide Buccaneers – the current Connacht Senior Cup champions – with a certain profile, the progression of several club members to provincial and international level has been a massive boost for the midlanders who presently fields a total of 20 teams.
Rising Ireland star Robbie Henshaw has come through the underage ranks of the club, and Fagan feels that his rapid ascension, as well Jack Carty’s presence in the Connacht team, has helped the game of rugby in Athlone.
“It’s been huge. Probably one of the biggest compliments I got recently, I popped into a guy from Athlone Town (Football Club). He turned around and he was complimenting Robbie (Henshaw) and at the same time, tongue-in-cheek, he said ‘you’re killing us at the moment, every kid wants to play rugby!’
“To see the likes of Robbie, homegrown, and then we have the number one choice out-half in Connacht at the moment, Jack Carty. It’s a great success for us to see guys coming all the way through the ranks and making it to the top level,”added Fagan.