Club info/Background

Founded in the 1969/1970 rugby season Bruff RFC had humble beginnings, Starting out with their first game on the green behind the church in the village. A kind donation of a pitch for the princely sum of £1 and the use of the Gate lodge to the estate of the Late Lt. Col. The O’ Grady (Club president at the time) in 1970/71 was a major boost at the present day, the Club has grown from strength to strength boasting excellent facilities.

In the 2003-2004 Season, Bruff managed to win the Munster Junior League for the third time in four years and following three out of three wins in the AIL Round robin qualifying series, finally entered the A.I.L. Senior League. In the 2006-2007 season Bruff celebrated their first win of a Senior XV competition when they were crowned champions of Division Three after winning the play-off stages of the competition despite having failed to gain promotion to division 2 during the League phase (They beat the two teams promoted ahead of them in the Semi-final and the Final). The beginning of the 2007 season sees the introduction of match standard lighting to the club following a successful application for grant aiding to the National Lottery Fund towards the end of the 2006 season. It is hoped that this innovative feature will allow for ease of pressure on referees and other Munster Branch resources at peak times during the weekends by allowing mid week games to be played.

The club grounds presently include an area of approximately 13 acres, with 3 full size, lit pitches, A fourth training area is also being constructed at the moment.
The Club Pavilion has a decent sized, well stocked bar, a large dance area (originally two squash courts), kitchen facilities, a well kitted gymnasium, steam room & sauna. The pavilion has just been revamped complete with a modern lighting system and is available for club functions or members private parties etc. Contact the Committee for Details or use the email link on the contact page to book a function. The dressing room block contains 6 dressing rooms with associated shower facilities, storage rooms and a covered viewing stand facing towards the newly reconstructed pitch. There has been a large spend on facility maintenance over the last few years thanks to the fabulous voluntary work as well as those contracted for some of the works. Club members from all walks and ways of life have constantly given freely of their time to help keep the club on the road and improve the facilities available.
Every year, a one-day, under 12 “blitz” competition is held during the October bank holiday. Known as the “James Keating Memorial Competition”, it is named in honour of a former Club Captain, James Keating RIP, who died while training at the club early in the 1986-87 season. 16 teams are invited to play every season.In the Summer of 2006 for the first time we held a one day Tag Rugby Blitz (The BULL ‘N’ BOOZE) which will be run on an annual basis. Following a day of fast flowing (For some) Tag Rugby, we had a bar-b-que, live bands and disco on into the early hours. Improved again with the co-operation of the IRFU Tag Section in 2007, this has become a major fixture on the Tag Rugby Calendar and we hope to continue this into the future. 2007 also saw the inaugural Tag Spring League in Bruff and this is also going to be run on an annual basis. Always willing to adapt to change Bruff R.F.C. looks to have a promising future.

Click HERE for the history of the club crest
Click here for the Irish Independent’s history of Bruff R.F.C. By George Hook