With Rugby still very much in it’s infancy in Ireland back in the 1870’ and 80’s the game was gaining a certain degree of popularity outside it’s almost exclusive Dublin environs and organised clubs began to spring up outside “ the pale “.
It took a few years before Shannon could feel totally familiar with the transition from Junior to senior rugby and found it a little difficult in their initial Munster Senior cup outings, but in the 1958/59 season, they advanced to their first ever senior cup final over but were denied their first cup by Bohemians, after a replay.
Since its inception, the AIL has been without doubt the backbone of the current success enjoyed by the professional ranks. It was a new and exciting era with many of the pre-conceived notions of club superiority very quickly abandoned.
When Shannon secured senior status in 1953 and then subsequently achieved their initial goal, winning the Munster senior cup, it was inevitable that an international representative would eventually follow. It all began for Shannon in 1968, 15 years after achieving senior status, when Brian O’Brien began the club’s influence on the National stage.
A little over 15 years ago, Ladies rugby was very slowly beginning to establish a niche in the world of sport. With so many ladies ingrained in the Shannon tradition , it wouldn’t take long before 20 or so potential players would come together to form Shannon’s first ladies side.
Shannon can boast of a hugely successful underage structure with nearly 400 registered players from U/6 through to U/19, and over 50 willing and enthusiastic coaches. Since moving to the spacious Coonagh grounds, they have flourished and have developed an ethos of participation and encouragement.
It’s a common known fact that Club rugby has suffered a lack of support in recent years amongst the wider rugby public, but in terms of sponsorship, Shannon can count themselves fortunate to have been backed very generously over the years. O2, and Shannon have become somewhat synonymous over the last number of years, with Irelands leading Communications Company adorning the famed black and blue jersey for almost 12 years.
Shannon RFC have a continued belief in the prosperity of Irish rugby, and firmly believe that a vibrant club structure is an integral component in its continued success. To this end, they see the continuation of a full All Ireland league as the only way in which the future player base in the country can be maintained.