Lurgan is one of the oldest Rugby Clubs in Ireland, first fielding a team in 1880. The only surviving records from those early years of Lurgan’s history are two framed of the teams from 1880 and 1900.

In those early years Lurgan played at Soye’s Folly in the town before moving to Annaloiste and then to Toberhewny and the Tandragee Road.

The Great War saw the playing of rugby suspended. In 1919 the Club was reformed in 1919 and rented the showground in Lurgan Park as a playing pitch and obtained the use of changing facilities, including the famous sunken bath, and an entertainments room at Brownlow Castle. The Club still retains its connection with the Public Park making frequent use of the pitch there. Set amongst an avenue of elm trees the pitch is one of the most picturesque venues for rugby in the country.

The 1919-20 season saw Lurgan fielding a 2nd XV for the first time. The following season saw the 1st XV appear in their first Cup Final when the met Queen’s University in the final of the Junior Cup. Although beaten in that final the next season heralded a period of great success for the Club. Team Photo Archive.

PAST PLAYERS’ CUP

The 1921-22 season saw the 1st XV win the Past Players’ Cup (Junior League Championship) and the Provincial Towns’ Cup. In the 1924-25 season the 1st XV achieved a remarkable treble of winning the Past Players’ Cup (Junior League Championship), the Provincial Towns’ Cup and the Junior Cup. It is a record that can not be beaten and, to date, has not been equalled. Success continued the following year when the Provincial Towns’ Cup once more returned to Lurgan.

In the 1926-27 season, at the invitation of the IRFU (Ulster Branch) Lurgan entered the Senior League where they acquitted themselves well for 7 years. Retirement of star players made matters difficult for the 1st XV and they re-entered the Junior League in 1933.

The advent of the 2nd World War again saw the suspension of rugby in the town. With the cessation of hostilities rugby once more resumed. Trevor Pollock, the Club’s first Patron, was one of those involved in the re-formation of the Club. Remarkably he had also been involved in reforming the Club at the end of the 1st World War as well.

SUCCESS

The Club were soon fielding two teams again and in the 1948-49 season the Club began make an impact in competitive rugby when the 1st XV reached the semi-final of the Past Player’s Cup. The period between 1948 and 1964 was, undoubtedly, the Club’s most successful period. During that time the 1st XV won three Junior League titles, won the Provincial Town’s Cup three times and the Junior Cup once. Additionally they were beaten in four Provincial Towns’ Cup Finals and one Junior Cup Final. The 2nd XV also won the Harden Cup (Minor League Championship) in the 1963-64 season.

The Club entered a 3rd XV in competitive rugby during the 1953-54 season and added a 4th XV in the 1961-62 season. 1964 also saw the Club become landowners when they purchased 6 acres of ground at Toberhewny. Eventually to be named Pollock Park in honour of Mr Trevor Pollock the ground has seen considerable development over the years. Pollock Park now comprises a Clubhouse, three rugby pitches (one of which is a sand carpet pitch), a floodlit training area, an International class cricket wicket and two artificial cricket wickets.

From 1970 onwards, although not reaching the heady heights of the 1948-64 era, Lurgan did enjoy some success. In the 1971-72 season the 1st XV won Junior League Division 2, the title secure by a last minute penalty in the last game of the season by Trevor Sloan.

MINI & YOUTH RUGBY

Lurgan had the foresight to introduce Mini and Youth Rugby in the 1970s but, as with any long-term project, it was to be 1980 before tangible results were felt. Hit with the retirement of many senior players during the intervening years Lurgan had slipped to Junior League Division 5. In 1980, to celebrate the Club’s centenary, Lurgan embarked on a major European Tour to Italy.

Hosted by the Treviso Club (now Benneton Treviso) the tour to the Rome and Venice areas was a huge success. Lurgan also became the first touring side, from any country, to have visited Treviso. The benefits of the tour in gelling the team became obvious on the Club’s return. The 1st XV gained promotion to Junior League Division 4, the promotion secured by a last minute penalty in the last game of the season by the hero of 1971-72, Trevor Sloan.

TOUR

Lurgan’s foresight in introducing Mini and Youth Rugby really began to pay off in the mid 1980s. In the 1983-84 season, with the bulk of the 1st XV drawn from the Club’s successful Under 20 XV of the previous season, Lurgan were narrowly beaten in a play-off for the Junior League Division 5 title. The Club eased their disappointment by embarking on their second major International Tour, this time to Canada.

Once more the tour worked its magic, the 1st XV winning the Junior League Division 5 title during the 1984-85 season. The success continued with the 1st XV clinching the Division 4 and Division 3 titles in successive years as well as reaching the semi-final of the Past Players’ Cup in 1986-87.

The 1990s were something of a topsy- decade for the Club. The retirement of a number of influential players saw the 1st XV slip back to Junior League Division 5. The team rallied between 1994 and 1997, gaining promotion in successive seasons, reinstating themselves in Junior League Division 2 then slipping back to Division 3 at the end of the 1998-99 season. The 2nd XV also reached the final of the Forster Plate that same season.

NEW MILLENNIUM

The new millennium saw a resurgence in Lurgan’s confidence. Now competing in Ulster Qualifying League Division 3 the 1st XV eased the disappointment of missing promotion (by a solitary point) in the 1999-2000 season by becoming the inaugural winners of the Gordon West Cup. The 2000-2001, 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 seasons have all seen the 1st XV finish as runners-up in their league.

The 2nd XV also rediscovered their flair and, after a number of mediocre seasons, finished the 1999-2000 season in 3rd place in Intermediate League. The following season they cruised through the league, losing only one match and averaging 31 points per game. Guaranteed promotion they received an extra bonus when the leagues were restructured and they were elevated to Junior League Division 4. Just to prove it wasn’t a fleeting success they gained promotion to Junior League Division 3 in the 2001-2002 season.

The 3rd XV have also shown growing confidence, finishing in very credible mid-table positions in the league over the last few seasons. The 2002-2003 season also saw tangible success for the Clubs Youth Rugby section with the Under 14s reaching the final of the Youth Plate competition.

Despite the growing confidence within the Club, Lurgan still retains a good deal of the old-fashioned ethos. Teams may find Lurgan tough opponents on the pitch but off it the players are genial hosts and sociable visitors.

CROSS COMMUNITY

Throughout the years Lurgan has very much been a ‘cross community’ Club with players from all sections of the community represented in its teams. There has also been a significant Gaelic Football influence at the Club, some players having enjoyed considerable success in both codes.

For a number of years the highlight of pre-season training was a Rugby/Gaelic match. This match has now been formalised with the introduction of the Silverwood Cup, played for annually between Lurgan and St. Patrick’s GFC, Magheralin. Lurgan are the current holders!

Lurgan is also a very cosmopolitan club. Along with its home grown talent the Club has also fielded players from England, Scotland, Wales, America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and, most recently, Sweden.

With its playing and coaching structures well established and an excellent infrastructure Lurgan can continue to look to the future with confidence.

HONOURS

Over the years Lurgan players have gained recognition at representative levels.

The Rev. J. G. M. W. Murphy and W. Pedlow both played for Ireland during their careers at the Club. Ray Hunter, having moved from Lurgan to a Senior Club, played for Ireland and the British Lions.

Garfield Bell, again having moved to a Senior Club, was capped many times for Ulster and was a member of the Ireland 'A' squad.

Alan Burns, after a successful career at Lurgan, went onto enjoy league and cup honours at Senior Level with Dungannon. He was also a member of the Ulster Development Squad.

David Jordan, a member of the same successful Lurgan team as Alan Burns, carried on that success at North as well as being a member of the Ulster Development Squad.

Kyle Geddis, still playing at the Club, has been capped for Ulster at Under 19, Under 20 and Junior Ulster level.