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Buccaneers RFC is more than just a rugby club, it’s a way a life for the people of Athlone. 

Located on the River Shannon, the town in the heart of Ireland’s midlands is inextricably intertwined with the club which has seen generations of families come through its ranks. Rugby fans can book British lions 2021 tickets on our website at exclusively discounted prices.

Among the players the club has fostered over the years is Ireland international and British & Irish Lions tourist Robbie Henshaw, who became Lion No.824 in New Zealand in 2017. 

Like so many at Buccaneers, Henshaw’s father Tony and uncle David had also played for the club before him – with the latter going on to represent Connacht during the 1990s. 

In fact, the importance of family permeates almost every aspect of Buccaneers and it’s the reason why club president Eamon Collins believes rugby runs through the veins in Athlone. 

“Everybody that comes to the club enjoys playing, there is a great sense of community in the club, they come in at under six and they never seem to leave because they like it so much,” he said. 

“There’s great teamwork, discipline, enjoyment and sportsmanship around the place and there’s a real sense of family – that’s what is so great about the club. 

“This is very true of the Henshaws. The Henshaws have been in the club, their father and uncles have played at the club and they have done an awful lot at the club since they started playing. 

“Robbie is still very involved, he’s a great ambassador for our club and we’re very proud of him. Buccaneers is at the heart of Athlone and rugby is everything in Athlone. 

“Everyone wants to play, everyone wants to be involved and the big problem we have is trying to facilitate all these young players as they all want to become the next Robbie Henshaw and Jack Carty. 

“People come and join the club as underage players and when their playing career finishes, they often continue with the club as administrators, coaches, referees and whatever else. 

“It very much passes through the generations. If you look back through the history of the club, it goes from generation to generation like it does with the Henshaws.” 

The club’s name originates from the Shannon Buccaneers, which was founded by Diarmuid Murtagh in the 1930s and fielded players such as 1938 Lions captain Sammy Walker. 

But after World War Two forced the club to fold and be disbanded, it wasn’t until the formation of Athlone Rugby Football Club in 1951 that rugby was revived in the town. 

More recently, in the 1993/94 season, Athlone and Ballinasloe amalgamated to compete in the All-Ireland League before eventually changing their name to Buccaneers RFC. 

Leo Galvin was one of the people who was instrumental in the alliance with Ballinasloe, which ended in 2005/06, and he was the first Athlone clubman to play senior rugby for Ireland. 

And with Jack Carty and Henshaw since following in the footsteps of Galvin, Buccaneers media officer Michael Silke believes their rise through the ranks has inspired the next generation. 

“We have supplied a number of players to Connacht and a number of lads were in the Connacht squad, including Jack Carty and Robbie Henshaw, when they won the PRO12 title in 2016,” he said.

“Athlone is a garrison town and garrison towns are traditionally soccer towns. We have a lot of competition from Gaelic soccer as we have six very good GAA clubs within five miles. 

“There’s lots of competition for players so the fact that young lads started coming through and wearing the green of Ireland and Robbie and Jack played senior rugby for Ireland was inspiring. 

“We have around 400 kids now at the club, many more than when I first got involved with the club, and we have 25 teams in total from adults and the Under-20s down to the minis. 

“There was great excitement around the place and pride when Robbie was selected for the Lions in 2017. To get players coming through and playing for Ireland U20s was a great achievement. 

“But when you have guys like Robbie making the senior Ireland squad and then being included in the last British & Irish Lions Tour to New Zealand, it was incredible for the club.” 

Buccaneers have enjoyed plenty of success on the field themselves over the years, winning the Connacht Senior League 12 times and the Connacht Senior Cup on eight occasions. 

Among those currently representing the club is first team captain Evan Galvin, who like Henshaw before him, was introduced to Buccaneers through his family’s long association with the club. 

And Galvin, the nephew of Leo, hopes the example set by Lions tourist Henshaw can keep the conveyer belt of youngsters coming through the ranks at Buccaneers for years to come. 

“There is definitely a family feel to the club. Young kids come down and play and if they enjoy it, they stick at it. There’s also a core volunteer group of parents who support,” he said. 

“It’s great for the club that Robbie and Jack have gone on and represented Ireland. There are lads in the past that have done so too and it shows there’s a good love for the game here. 

“There is development in the Midlands of Ireland, with players going on to represent the club and the province and then the country and the Lions. The club is very proud of the lads. 

“They always give their time to come down and help out with underage sessions. It inspires young lads to play. If you’re a young kid and you see someone like that it’s great. 

“There is a lot of sports that the lads can play at an early age so it’s important these young lads who play rugby are inspired to keep playing and stick at it, be the next Robbie Henshaw. 

“If they can be inspired to keep playing from the younger ages groups through to the first team, that’s a pathway we’ve show is there and it’s important to inspire that next generation.” 

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Exeter Chiefs are celebrating a first Champions Cup success after overcoming Racing 92 in a thrilling final where plenty of players with British & Irish Lions ambitions put on a show. . Rugby fans can book British lions 2021 tickets on our website at exclusively discounted prices.

A topsy-turvy finale capped a most unique of European seasons in enthralling fashion with both sides throwing everything at the other.

Luke Cowan-Dickie, Sam Simmonds, Harry Williams and Henry Slade all dotted down for the English side as they held on with just 14 men for the final ten minutes to overcome the French outfit 31-27.

In a record-breaking match, which saw the most tries ever in a Champions Cup final, 2013 Lion Simon Zebo became the fourth player to record a double in the final while Juan Imhoff and Camille Chat also crossed the whitewash.

Exeter’s Simmonds brothers Sam and Joe both starred with the young duo showcasing their varied skillset.

Both will hope to have impressed Warren Gatland with next year’s Lions squad in mind after serving as the backbone of a potentially double winning Chiefs side this campaign.

Fly-half Joe was pinpoint from the tee to earn the man of the match award while No.8 Sam showed just what an asset he is in both attack and defence as he scored Exeter’s second try.

It was Cowan-Dickie who first dotted down after an incredible start from Exeter, who piled huge pressure on their French opponents.

The hooker has enjoyed a brilliant campaign for the Chiefs, having been named in the Premiership’s Dream Team of the season, and he continued in that rich vein of form as the English side kicked off the content in a ferocious intensity.

Cowan-Dickie could very well be playing himself into Lions contention next summer and he was at it again as Exeter scored their second try, initiating the tap carry that helped Simmonds cross the whitewash.

And he also had a hand in his side’s third try on the stroke of half-time as Williams sent Exeter into the half-time break with a 21-12 lead.

2017 tourist Finn Russell was also highly influential for Racing 92, even if his side lost, as the fly-half pulled the strings.

Firstly Russell, who made a Lions appearance off the bench against Hurricanes, fired through a picture-perfect pass for Zebo’s first try before he was heavily involved in the Irishman’s second too.

But an error from the Scottish No.10 gave Exeter their fourth try as Jack Nowell intercepted before releasing Slade to score.

Nowell, who starred on the 2017 Tour to New Zealand, will hope to be on the plane to South Africa in 2021 after an impressive campaign and did his chances no harm here.

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Bryan Habana has singled out a particular play during the 2009 Test series between the Springboks and British & Irish Lions as one of the best moments in his career. Rugby fans can book British lions 2021 tickets on our website at exclusively discounted prices.

South Africa won the first two Tests and the Lions clinched the third match for a 2-1 series scoreline in favour of the hosts.

The Boks dominated the first game but had to rally late in the second match to mount a comeback having trailed by 11 points with 20 minutes left.

Habana and centre Jaque Fourie scored late tries, while Morne Steyn stepped up to slot the conversions and two penalties to clinch the win and with that the series.

Reflecting on that riveting Test at Loftus 12 years ago, the legendary Bok pinpoints Fourie’s stunning try as one of the best he has ever seen.

“What that game did give us was one of the best tries I’ve ever seen on a rugby field from Jaque Fourie,” Habana told former teammate Jean de Villiers during a Laureus Sport for Good Foundation webinar.

“Mine his try was a set move that we practised on the training park for two or three years before that, but that finish from Jaque Fourie and the way it happened, to give Morne that final opportunity to make that kick to win it was incredible.”

“As a rugby player, you always want to contribute. It was a great memory and a pretty spectacular moment for all of us involved. The party in the Monte Casino the following weekend summed up what a great moment it was.

“It’s crazy to think that it’s been 12 years already. The uniqueness of a Lions series as a South African, Australian or New Zealander, that only happens once every 12 years.

“There are some Test centurions that never get an opportunity to play against the Lions. The passion, pride, camaraderie and uniqueness of it is something that many players would give any waking moment to be a part of.

“We were fortunate that we had that success in 2007 and saw it as the majority of us staying together with the hope of doing something special in 2009, given that we had lost the series in 1997.”

‘It was a really important goal, short term, that I had written down. 2009 was special and it played a crucial part in my planning and I’m grateful to be part of an occasion that went down in history.’

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All eyes will be on the battle for European supremacy on Saturday afternoon when Exeter Chiefs and Racing 92 meet in the final of the Heineken Champions Cup at Ashton Gate. Rugby fans can book British lions 2021 tickets on our website at exclusively discounted prices.

The silverware showpiece will be the second of two finals taking place this weekend, with Bristol Bears travelling to France to take on Toulon in the European Challenge Cup on Friday night.

But it is the meeting of Chiefs and Racing that has been given headline billing as two of Scotland’s best players – both British & Irish Lions – come face-to-face on club rugby’s biggest stage.

Stuart Hogg and Finn Russell have been integral to their team’s hopes this season, with both men recognized with a place on the five-man shortlist for European Player of the Year.

And they will now look to put their relationship as international teammates to one side as they attempt to outfox each other and guide their respective teams to a famous victory in Bristol.

The European final also presents a prime opportunity to show Warren Gatland why they deserve a place on the plane to South Africa for next year’s highly-anticipated Lions Tour.

REVISITING AGE-GROUP RIVALRY

Hogg and Russell have been international colleagues for the best part of a decade and have 125 caps between them – but Saturday will not be the first time they’ve come head-to-head.

The encounter at Ashton Gate will see the duo take to the pitch on opposing teams for the first time since they were teenagers playing age-group rugby in Scotland.

“We must have been 12 or 13 years old,” said 2017 Lions tourist and Racing 92 fly-half Russell. “The time I remember is playing against each other in the Gala sevens. 

“Hoggy and Rory Sutherland were playing for Hawick and I was playing for Stirling County. That’s the last time I remember playing Hoggy.”

Since then Hogg and Russell have played together for Glasgow Warriors and Scotland, becoming well-accustomed to each other’s game – something both will attempt to use to their benefit.

“When I played against Stuart – I was chatting to him the other day – I was saying it was probably me doing a lot of the kicking down towards him,” said Russell.

“I know what attacking threats he has got and maybe we can target him in defence or in the air. It’s good knowing him but at the same time it’s also the other way round.

“He knows how I like to play and he knows what I might look for and he might be able to counter that. Maybe I’ll play with my left foot this weekend!”

PRODUCING THE UNEXPECTED

One of the main reasons the duel between Hogg and Russell is being hyped so much is because both players are mavericks capable of pulling a rabbit out of a hat for their teams.

You only have to look at their European semi-finals to see their ability to change the game.

Russell’s vision against defending champions Saracens proved decisive for Racing 92 in the last four, linking up with Virimi Vakatawa to create the match-winning try for Juan Imhoff.

Meanwhile, Hogg’s kicking from deep pinned Toulouse back in Exeter’s semi-final while he was also as slippery as a bag of eels, slaloming through broken field on multiple occasions.

While the Scotland skipper’s running ability often gets overlooked due to Chiefs’ relentless forward press, Hogg’s quick feet often provide the platform – and territory – for Exeter’s success.

But the two-time Lions tourist knows his side faces their toughest challenge yet against Racing 92 – beaten finalists in 2016 and 2018 – and, in particular, his international teammate Russell.

“Finn is an absolutely unbelievable talent and I think at this minute he is one of the best 10s in the world,” Hogg said. “I know how Finn plays; I know that he’s a world-class talent. 

“I think he has got the ability to change the game in a heartbeat. For me, he is one of the most naturally-gifted rugby players I’ve ever come across in my career.”

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A huge weekend of domestic rugby was dominated by the Premiership semi-finals as four teams were whittled down to two ahead of the showpiece final at Twickenham. Rugby fans can book British lions 2021 tickets on our website at exclusively discounted prices.

A huge weekend of domestic rugby was dominated by the Premiership semi-finals as four teams were whittled down to two ahead of the showpiece final at Twickenham.

Exeter Chiefs and Wasps will contest for the grand prize on October 24 after overcoming Bath Rugby and Bristol Bears, respectively, to secure a visit to England Rugby HQ.

Unsurprisingly, all four teams were packed with international quality, as well as several British & Irish Lions, including those with ambitions of making the 2021 Tour to South Africa.

Meanwhile, the second round of Guinness PRO14 action also saw one two-time Lions tourist produce a match-winning display to get his team off the mark in the competition.

And for those who missed any of the weekend’s action-packed drama, here’s the lowdown on the players who may have caught Warren Gotland’s eye with their performance.

HOGG SCORES FOR CLINICAL CHIEFS

Exeter Chiefs remain on course for a domestic and European double after defeating West Country rivals Bath Rugby in their bruising Premiership Rugby semi-final at Sandy Park.

The visitors included three Lions in their starting line-up as Anthony Watson, Jonathan Jospeh and Taulupe Faletau looked to guide Bath to a first Premiership final since 2014/15.

But tries from Jonny Hill and Luke Cowan-Dickie put the Devonians 14-6 ahead at the break, with Wales fly-half Rhys Priest land keeping Bath in touch with a couple of penalties.

And two-time tourist Stuart Hogg, who had already played a key role in Cowan-Dickie’s try with a break deep into Bath territory, then provided the decisive moment after the interval.

The Scotland captain’s tactical kicking kept Bath pinned back and gave him the platform to score Chiefs’ third try – and his sixth for the club – after fine support play by Joe Simmonds.

Further tries from Hill and Ollie Devoto ensured the result was no longer in doubt as Exeter booked their place in the Premiership Rugby showpiece for a fifth consecutive year.

WILLIS SHINES AGAIN FOR WASPS

Eddie Jones can expect more calls for Jack Willis to start for England this autumn after the Wasps back-rower excelled again to guide his side to victory over Bristol Bears in Coventry.

Willis was awarded man of the match for his outstanding display at the Ricoh Arena, where the hosts ran in five tries to win 47-24 and reach their first Premiership final since 2017.

Tries from Malakai Fekitoa and Willis, plus three penalties from Jimmy Gopperth, gave the hosts a 23-5 advantage at the half-time break with Luke Morahan responding for Bristol.

Bristol closed the gap with a Harry Thacker try after the restart but Wasps took the game by the scruff of the neck with three more tries from Dan Robson, Zach Kibirige, and Matteo Minozzi.

And while Harry Randall and Max Malins crossed to make the scoreboard look better for the visitors, there were no stopping Wasps from storming into the Twickenham showpiece.

Willis’ work at the breakdown was integral to the hosts’ success, while he also held up Callum Sheedy when he crossed the try line, ensuring the 23-year-old stole all the headlines once again.

ROBERTS ROLLS BACK THE YEARS

Two-time Lions tourist Jamie Roberts rose to the occasion on his home debut for Dragons as the center’s man-of-the-match display carried the Welsh region to a 26-18 win against Zebre.

Roberts, who was Lions Player of the Series on the 2009 Tour, was at his rampaging best against the Italian outfit, playing a key role in two tries and scoring one himself in Newport.

Elsewhere, Warren Gatland was watching on as Ulster secured their second Guinness PRO14 win of the season despite captain Iain Henderson being shown a late red card against Ospreys.

Tries from Jacob Stockdale, Marcell Coetzee, and John Cooney, who contributed 14 points in total, helped the Irish province to a 24-12 success against the Welsh side at the Liberty Stadium.

Lion’s tourists Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric, and Rhys Webb were all in action for the hosts under Gatland’s gaze but they were unable to prevent Ospreys from slipping to defeat.

Meanwhile, James Lowe scored a try as Leinster beat Benetton 37-25 while CJ Stander crossed as Munster edged out Edinburgh and Cardiff Blues made it two wins from two as they defeated Connacht 29-7 at Rodney Parade.

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