Instonians
{{short description|Sporting society}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
Instonians is a sports club based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, that incorporates rugby union, men's and ladies' hockey and cricket sections. There is also a golf society that plays under the Instonians name.
Instonians Rugby Football, Cricket and Athletic Clubs merged on 1 April 1962, the combined sections being known as 'Instonians', and then on 31 May 1979 the title of the club was changed to Instonians Rugby Football and Cricket Club. Finally on 1 April 1988, the Instonians Men's Hockey Club joined the association when the title reverted to Instonians.
Membership
The club was closed to former pupils or staff of Royal Belfast Academical Institution, which regards itself as one of the leading schools in Belfast. Instonians was the last 'old boys' club in Ireland to finally open its membership to all in 1990.
Grounds
The club for many years used the Royal Belfast Academical Institution grounds at Bladon Drive, Osborne Park and Orangefield, before moving to its own grounds at Shane Park in 1965. Shane Park was sold for redevelopment in 1999 and the club now groundshares at the Shaw's Bridge Sports Complex with Cooke.
Rugby
{{Infobox rugby team
| teamname = Instonians
| fullname = Instonians Rugby Club
| image = Instonians Club Logo.png
| image_size = 120px
| union = {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} IRFU
| branch = Ulster
| founded = {{start date and age|1919}}
| location = Belfast
| region = Antrim
| ground = Shaws Bridge Sports Complex
| chairman = Peter Bradley
| president = Owen Lambert
| rugby director = Clem Boyd
| coach = Paul Pritchard
| captain = David Whitten
| league = A.I.L. Div. 2A
| season = 2024–25
| position = 1st – promoted[https://www.irishrugby.ie/all-ireland-leagues-old/men/league-tables/ A.I.L. Tables 2024–25]
| pattern_la1 = _blackgoldhoops
| pattern_b1 = _blackgold stripes
| pattern_ra1 = _blackgoldhoops
| pattern_sh1 = _black_thinstripe_color
| pattern_so1 = _hoops_black_gold
| body1 = 800080
| leftarm1 = 800080
| rightarm1 = 800080
| shorts1 = 800080
| socks1 = 800080
| url = https://instonians.org/
}}
Instonians Rugby Club started as a section within the Belfast Old Instonians Association. The original part of the modern-day club, it started play in the Ulster Junior League in season 1919–20, and produced play of sufficient quality to merit immediate election to the Ulster Senior League for the following season.{{cite web|url=https://instonians.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3&Itemid=77|title=Instonians RFC History|website=instonians.org|accessdate=31 December 2024}}
As of 2024 the 1st XV currently plays in the All Ireland League, Division 2A.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/2024/09/20/energia-all-ireland-league-mens-division-2a-2b-2c-previews/|title=AIL Men's Divisions 2A, 2B & 2C: Round 1 Previews|website=irishrugby.ie|date=20 September 2024|accessdate=31 December 2024}}
Instonians have won the Ulster Senior Cup twenty times,{{cite web|url=https://ulster.rugby/content/instonians-hold-off-queens-university-in-dramatic-senior-cup-final|title=Instonians hold off Queen's University in dramatic Senior Cup Final|website=ulster.rugby|date=4 May 2024|accessdate=31 December 2024}} the Ulster Junior Cup four times and the Ulster Senior League seven times (with five shared titles).
31 Instonians rugby players have been capped by Ireland at full International level and the club has produced two British and Irish Lions captains.{{cite web|url=https://www.lionsrugby.com/2017/03/01/your-club-your-lions-instonians/|title=Your club your Lions: Instonians|website=lionsrugby.com|date=1 March 2017|accessdate=31 December 2024}}
=Honours=
- All-Ireland Cup: 1
- 1926–27
- Ulster Senior Cup: 20
- 1921–22, 1922–23, 1926–27, 1927–28, 1928–29, 1930–31, 1933–34, 1937–38, 1945–46, 1947–48, 1948–49, 1949–50, 1953–54, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1964–65, 1978–79, 1998–99, 2023-24{{cite web|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/sport/instonians-end-25-year-wait-for-senior-cup-glory-with-extra-time-win-over-queens-in-final/a991329419.html|title=Instonians end 25-year wait for Senior Cup glory with extra-time win over Queen’s in Final|first=Michael|last=Sadlier|website=belfasttelegraph.co.uk|date=4 May 2024|accessdate=31 December 2024}}
- Ulster Senior League: 12 (5 shared)
- 1924–25, 1925–26, 1926–27 (shared), 1927–28, 1950–51 (shared), 1952–53 (shared), 1953–54 (shared), 1956–57 (shared), 1957–58, 1959–60, 1984–85, 1986–87
- Ulster Junior Cup: 5
- †1936–37, †1959–60, †1973–74, †1993–94, 2014–15
† Won by 2nd XV
Ladies' Hockey
Instonians Ladies' Hockey is somewhat unusual in that the club is associated with a boys' school. However, the ladies' hockey section was the second part of the club to be formed in 1921. Membership was initially made up from wives, sisters, daughters and girlfriends of Inst old boys and staff.
The ladies' hockey club was one of the most successful club sides in Ulster over a period from 1930 until the mid-1960s. They were winners of the Ulster Shield on ten occasions and won the Irish Senior Cup in 1955. The dawning of the 1970s saw a gradual decline in playing standards, and eventually Senior League status was lost.
They took up a nomadic existence moving from ground to ground over the past twenty years. However 2006 saw Instonians Ladies' Hockey Club renew its connection with the parent club with the opening of a new water-based artificial turf pitch at the Shaw's Bridge Sports Complex.
Instonians Ladies currently play in Section Four of the Senior League (following the restructuring of the ladies leagues in 2007 removing Qualifying and Intermediate Sections) of the Ulster Women's Hockey Union.
Cricket Club
Instonians Cricket Club was founded in 1932. The first team currently plays in the Premier League of the NCU Senior League.
=Honours=
- NCU Senior League: 5 (2 shared)
- 1962, 2009 (shared), 2013 (shared), 2014, 2016, 2023
- NCU Challenge Cup: 3
- 1964, 2009, 2012
- Ulster Cup: 4
- 1999, 2007, 2010, 2011
- NCU Junior Cup: 4
- †1967, †1970, †2001, †2017
† Won by 2nd XI
Men's Hockey Club
Instonians Men's Hockey Club was formed in 1959. The first team is one of the top teams in Ireland, winning the Irish Senior Cup on four occasions with their initial success coming in 1995. Four Irish Club Championships have also been won.
In association with Royal Belfast Academical Institution the club have just completed the purchase and laying of a water-based artificial turf playing surface at the Shaws Bridge Sports Complex.
Notable former players
= Rugby union =
;{{flagicon|British and Irish Lions}} British and Irish Lions
| style="vertical-align:top" | * David Hewitt | * Colin Patterson
|
;{{ru|Ireland}}
| style="vertical-align:top" | * Keith Crossan | * Colin Patterson
|
= Cricket =
;{{cr|IRE}} men's internationals
- Herbie Martin; played rugby union for Instonians.
- Regan West
= Field hockey =
;{{fh|Ireland}} men's internationals
;{{fh|England}} men's internationals
;{{fh|Great Britain}} men's internationals
;{{fhw|Ireland}} women's internationals
= Olympians =
;{{flagicon|Ireland}} Ireland
- Paul Gleghorne; field hockey – 2016
- Maeve Kyle; athletics – 1956, 1960, 1964
- Michael Watt; field hockey – 2016
;{{flagicon|Great Britain}} Great Britain
- Mark Gleghorne; field hockey – 2016
External links
- [http://www.instonians.org Instonians Club]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080615133206/http://www.instoniansladieshockey.co.uk/index.htm Instonians Ladies Hockey Club website]
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Rugby union in Ireland}}
{{Men's Irish Hockey League}}
{{Rugby union in Ulster}}
{{NCU Senior League}}
{{All-Ireland League (rugby union)}}
Category:Sports clubs and teams in Belfast
Category:Rugby union clubs in Northern Ireland
Category:Rugby union teams in Ireland
Category:Rugby union clubs in County Antrim
Category:NCU Senior League members
Category:Cricket clubs in County Antrim
Category:Field hockey clubs in Northern Ireland
Category:Men's Irish Hockey League teams
Category:1919 establishments in Ireland