AIL final: ‘Covid has reconnected many clubs to their communities’

During the dark days of the pandemic, rugby’s professional tier kept the show on the road, albeit with echoey stadia. But they were altogether grimmer times for the club game. There was the odd smattering of friendlies when restrictions were marginally eased, but between Corinthians beating Sligo 24-8 on March 7th, 2020 and Old Belvedere’s 16-13 win over Naas on October 1st, 2021, there wasn’t an AIL ball kicked in anger in the intervening year and seven months.

Allowing for seasons without playoffs, Terenure will also be the first club outside of Clontarf, Cork Con or Lansdowne to play in the final since 2011.That two clubs who are immersed in their communities have reached the final should make for a good day out. “I know it can be echoey in the Aviva but I think it will be noisy, and it’s the international stadium and the lads love playing there,” said Wood.

On the pitch, Terenure have actually gained a sixth adult team since the pandemic. They reinvented the Collegians, the club’s original name, to accommodate graduates of their under-20s in the original all-white strip, while entering a fifths team in a Friday night league. Terenure’s Harrison Brewer celebrates after their AIL Division 1 semi-final victory over Lansdowne at Lakelands Park, Terenure on Saturday April 23rd. Photograph: Tom Maher/Inpho

“There’s a perception that it [the club game] is dead on the vine but we had 4.2 million hits on video views on the [IRFU] website from the club game. It shows that there is a product and people are engaged in it. I think Covid has probably reconnected many clubs to their communities.”Division 1A relegation play-off, second leg: Ballynahinch v UCC , Ballymacarn Park

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