Ballyclare RFC
{{Short description|Rugby team based in Northern Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox rugby team
| teamname = Ballyclare RFC
| image =
| image_size =
| fullname = Ballyclare Rugby Football Club
| union = {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} IRFU
| branch = Ulster
| nickname = The Hares
| founded = {{start date and age|1949}}
| location = Ballyclare
| region = County Antrim
| ground = The Cloughan
| capacity = 1,000
| chairman = Bob Beckwith
| president = Lyle Andrew
| rugby director = Andrew Wylie
| coach = Mike Orchin-McKeever
| captain = Joel McBride
| league = A.I.L. Div. 2C
| season = 2024–25
| position = 4th.[https://www.irishrugby.ie/all-ireland-leagues-old/men/league-tables/ A.I.L. Tables 2024–25]
|
| pattern_la1 =
| pattern_b1 = _blueyellow_horizontal
| pattern_ra1 =
| pattern_sh1 =
| pattern_so1 = _navytop
| leftarm1 = ff0000
| body1 = ff0000
| rightarm1 = ff0000
| shorts1 = 000080
| socks1 = ff0000
| url = https://www.ballyclarerfc.co.uk/
}}
Ballyclare RFC is a rugby union club based in the town of Ballyclare, County Antrim in Northern Ireland. They play in Division 2C of the All-Ireland League since becoming a senior club in 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/why-ballyclares-rise-to-senior-rugby-for-the-first-time-will-impact-entire-town/a356481754.html|title=Why Ballyclare's rise to senior rugby for the first time will impact entire town|first=Michael|last=Sadlier|work=Belfast Telegraph|date=4 May 2024|accessdate=27 March 2025}}
History
The club was founded on 20 May 1949 as Ballyclarians. The current grounds at The Cloughan are provided by the Old Ballyclarians Association{{cite web|url=https://www.ballyclarerfc.co.uk/the-club/history/|title=Ballyclare RFC - history|website=ballyclarerfc.co.uk|accessdate=22 March 2025}} and the clubhouse and pavillon were officially opened in 1992.{{cite web|url=https://www.ballyclarerfc.co.uk/the-club/grounds-venue-hire/|title=Ballyclare RFC - club grounds|website=ballyclarerfc.co.uk|accessdate=22 March 2025}} The 2020s have been the most successful period in the club's history, winning three Ulster Towns Cups, the Ulster Junior Cup, All-Ireland Junior Cup and in 2024 won the Ulster Championship for the first time. They subsequently won promotion to the All-Ireland League.{{cite web|url=https://ulster.rugby/content/mcbride-strikes-late-to-secure-historic-energiaail-promotion-for-ballyclare|title=McBride strikes late to secure historic AIL promotion for Ballyclare|website=ulster.rugby|date=27 April 2024|accessdate=22 March 2025}}
Honours
- All-Ireland Junior Cup (1) : 2023-24{{cite web|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/ballyclare-lift-ail-junior-cup-with-win-in-dundalk/a985605937.html|title=Ballyclare lift AIL Junior Cup with win in Dundalk|first=Michael|last=Sadlier|work=Belfast Telegraph|date=27 January 2024|accessdate=22 March 2025}}
- All-Ireland Junior Championship (2) : 1977, 1978{{cite web|url=https://www.northernirelandworld.com/sport/rugby-union/all-ireland-junior-cup-win-would-rank-as-one-of-ballyclares-best-achievements-3536679|title=All-Ireland Junior Cup: Win would 'rank as one of Ballyclare's best achievements'|first=Russell|last=Keers|website=northernirelandworld.com|date=21 January 2022|accessdate=22 March 2025}}
- Ulster Championship (1) : 2023-24{{cite web|url=https://ulsterrugby.sportlomo.com/league/185171/|title=Ulster Championship 1 2023/24|website=ulsterrugby.sportlomo.com|accessdate=27 March 2025}}
- Ulster Junior Cup (3) : 1988–89, 2001–02, 2022-23{{cite web|url=https://ulster.rugby/content/junior-cup-final-enniskillen-36-42-ballyclare|title=Junior Cup Final - Enniskillen 36-42 Ballyclare|website=ulster.rugby|accessdate=27 March 2025}}
- Ulster Towns Cup (10) : 1976, 1978, 1980, 1986, 2004, 2013, 2018, 2020*, 2022, 2023
(2020 shared with Ballynahinch RFC - unfinished due to the COVID-19 pandemic)