KILKENNY RUGBY
FOOTBALL CLUB
CLUB HONOURS
Leinster Junior Cup (1) -1920
Provincial Towns Cup (6) - 1955, 1959, 1986, 2001, 2002, 2022
Provincial Towns Plate (2) - 2001, 2017
Leinster League Div 1A (2) - 2002/2003, 2003/2004
Leinster League Div 1B (2) - 2014/15, 2017/18
Leinster League Div 2A (1) - 2012/13
J1 South East League (11) - 1969, 1970, 1980, 1981, 1987, 1998, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2020
Provincial 2nds Towns Cup (7) - 1983, 1984, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005
Provincial 2nds Div 1 League (2) - 2001/02, 2003/03
Provincial 2nds Div 2A League (1) - 2010/11
J2 South East League (5) - 1989, 2001, 2005, 2011, 2020
Metropolitan Div 11 J3 League (1) - 2014/15
Metropolitan Div 10 J3 League (1) 2015/16
Provincial 4ths, Dunne Cup (3) 2006, 2017, 2018
Gale Cup U19/U20 (1) - 1993
Culleton Cup U17 (1) - 1982
Mc’Auley Cup U17 (1) - 1989
McGowan Cup U14 (3) - 1977, 2005, 2009
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We are proud of our History and the legacy that we have built over the years. Below you will see the teams and the victorious that have won cups and leagues for Kilkenny RFC.
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2022
2022 was another historic year for the club when after a 20 year absence, and narrow defeats in the 2014 and 2015 finals, the 1st XV captured its sixth Provincial Towns Cup trophy defeating Ashbourne by 32-6 in the final. This followed particularly narrow wins over Dundalk and Carlow in the semi final and quarter final and a tough second round win over a dogged Edenderry side. Kilkenny had obtained a bye in the first round due to their top 4 ranking in the Leinster Leagues.
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In another big development for the club, 2022 also saw the first womens trophy collected by the club when they won the Leinster Division 5 cup, a huge achievement considering the womens team had only recommenced competitive action this year after a few years absence from league and cup action
PROVINCIAL TOWNS CUP WINNERS
2003 proved to be another highly successful year for the Club.
The 1st XV retained the Leinster League but again lost out in the play- offs for the AIL, beating Westport but losing narrowly to Ards and Bruff.
The 2nd XV had a fabulous season, retaining the Leinster League and winning the Towns Cup.
2003
2003 proved to be another highly successful year for the Club.
The 1st XV retained the Leinster League but again lost out in the play- offs for the AIL, beating Westport but losing narrowly to Ards and Bruff.
The 2nd XV had a fabulous season, retaining the Leinster League and winning the Towns Cup.
2002
2002 was to prove the most successful season in the Club's history.
The all conquering 1st XV won the South East League, the Provincial Towns Cup was retained with Carlow beaten in the Final, and the Leinster League was won for the first time.
Ger McDonald again was Coach and the team was Captained by Willie Mahony, who won his third Towns Cup medal with Kilkenny.
Winning the Leinster League gave Kilkenny the chance to play-off for promotion to the AIL.Kilkenny beat Highfield and Westport in the play offs but lost narrowly to Queens University Belfast to lose out on promotion.
The 2nd XV also captured the Leinster League in 2002 to round off a fantastic year for the club.
2001
Finals were lost in 1987 and 1998 before Kilkenny won the Provincial towns cup again, in 2001. A late Dave McMahon penalty won a close fought match against Portlaoise in Carlow. The team accounted for Mullingar, Tullamore and Ashbourne on their way to the final.
Simon Manuel captained the team that narrowly lost out on winning the Leinster League as well. Willie Mahony was the only survivor from the '86 team that also included coach Ger McDonald.
1986
Kilkenny had to wait for 27 years, until 1986, before the trophy was won again. Kilkenny faced The Curragh in the final having beaten Navan, North Kildare, Portlaoise and Arklow along the way. The final was held in Drogheda and Kilkenny ran out winners 10-0.
The scorers were, Willie Mahony and Nicky Mcgrath with Paddy O'Driscoll converting a try. The team was captained by Mick McGrath and also included Ger McDonald, International Ned Byrne, Charlie Phelan, Joe Reidy and Murt Crotty.
1955
In 1955 Kilkenny won the Provincial Towns Cup for the first time. The team had a fantastic record, losing only one match all season. In winning the Cup their line was crossed only once.
The team contained some of the great names of Kilkenny rugby, Joe Hehir, Andy Henderson, Syl Gaffney and Paddy Kavanagh to name just four.
Kilkenny beat North Kildare in the final after a replay.
1920
The earliest mention of a rugby club in Kilkenny was in 1886, although rugby may have been played in the Marble City prior to this date.
One of the reports of the time tells that in 1889 a team left Carlow, by the afternoon train, to play a match the following day, against 'Kilkenny County and City Football Club' at Dukes Meadows, by kind permission of the most noble Marquis of Ormonde.
The 'Sentinel' report of the match tells us that Kilkenny won a 'very rough match' by one try to nil.
Kilkenny played at St James' Park from the early 1900's until 1974 when they moved to their present ground at Foulkstown, opening their new clubhouse in 1976.
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The Leinster Junior Cup was the fore runner of the Provincial Towns Cup and after many years of trying Kilkenny finally won it in 1920.
The final took place in Lansdowne Road and Kilkenny beat old rivals Enniscorthy 3-0.Among the team were Billy Gregory, Billy Kenealy, Dick Duggan and famous Kilkenny hurler Dr. J.J. Brennan.