On my own behalf and on behalf of the IRFU, I extend my best wishes to Terenure College RFC for the 2019-20 season and hope it is a successful one.
The start of this season heralds the staging of the Rugby World Cup in Japan and I know you join with me in wishing every success to coach, Joe Schmidt, and his management team, together with the Ireland playing squad.
This Rugby World Cup year creates a very busy season, taking account of Ireland’s women 15s team; the under 20s; men’s and women’s sectors; the fortunes of our provincial clubs in the Guinness Pro14 and Heineken Champions Cup and also the myriad club, women’s, third level and schools competitions through the grass roots landscapes.
While by its nature the professional game takes precedence on the International stage, the welfare of the domestic amateur game is of paramount importance to me and to the IRFU.
Having been chairman of the AIL and Third Level, I am acutely aware of the position of clubs and I take this opportunity to acknowledge the committed and critical role being played by our huge number of volunteers, who make it all happen.
I greatly welcome the IRFU’s signing of a five year partnership with Energia, which sees the electricity and gas supply company become the official energy partner to Irish rugby and also title sponsor of both the men’s and women’s All Ireland League competitions.
This year is the 30th anniversary of the AIL and the support being demonstrated by Energia is timely. It will hopefully give a lift to all clubs in the AIL, both men and women.
I appreciate the struggles of some clubs at all levels and hope this season 2019-20 will be a special one. I wish your club, its members, volunteers, players and supporters every success and enjoyment for the rugby year.
Nicky Comyn – President IRFU.
Nicky Comyn elected 131st President of the Irish Rugby Football Union
Nicholas (Nicky) Comyn was enrolled as the 131st President of the Irish Rugby Football Union at the annual Council Meeting in the Aviva Stadium today, July 19th 2019. He has been elected to fill the highest office in Irish rugby after a long and distinguished contribution to the game as a player, referee and administrator.
Synonymous with Sunday’s Well RFC, he has created a piece of club history by becoming the first member since the club’s foundation in 1906 to be elected President of the IRFU.
A measure of his contribution to Sunday’s Well is that he held the office of club President on three occasions, most notably in the club’s Centenary Year of 2006.
Born in Mallow where he attended the local National school and played Gaelic football and hurling before moving on to Clongowes Wood College where he was introduced to rugby, he played rugby with his native Mallow, UCD, Palmerston and Cork Constitution, and was capped frequently by Munster as a junior inter provincial centre/wing between 1966 and 1970.
Following his playing days he was a member of the Munster Association of Referees between 1979 and 1984. A delegate on the Munster Branch from 2006 to 2017, he was elected President in the 2008 – 2009 season which coincided with the opening of the re-built Thomond Park Stadium. A solicitor by profession, he has held a variety of key roles on the IRFU having been elected to the Committee in 2011, including as Chairman of the All Ireland League sub Committee, the Third Level Game Committee, the Junior Working Party and of the Women’s Advisory Group.
Married to Laura, he has four children: Keith, Amanda, Nicole and Horace.