Old Wesley are back among the leading names in Irish club rugby, 29 years after their last appearance in the Energia All-Ireland League top flight. Their return begins with one of the toughest tests available: an away trip to Clontarf at Castle Avenue.
The Dublin club secured promotion last season by winning Division 1B, recording 14 victories from 18 league matches and finishing a single point clear at the top. Now, with a new Division 1A campaign ahead, Old Wesley are determined to prove that promotion was the start of a fresh era rather than the end of a long-term ambition.
Old Wesley begin a new chapter in Irish rugby
Old Wesley last played at this level in 1997, when a defeat away to Young Munster brought their top-flight spell to a close. Since then, the club has competed through the lower divisions, rebuilding its playing structures and working towards a return to the highest level of the Energia All-Ireland League.
That journey has now reached its most important stage. The club’s opening fixture against Clontarf will be their first All-Ireland League meeting, although the sides did clash in the Leinster Senior Cup last month. Clontarf won that encounter 52-33, giving Old Wesley a clear indication of the intensity required in Division 1A.
Despite that result, Old Wesley have already shown they can compete with established top-flight opposition. They defeated UCD 24-12 away from home and followed that with a 24-17 victory over reigning cup champions Lansdowne.
Billy Corrigan carries the club’s history
At just 21, captain Billy Corrigan will lead Old Wesley into their first Division 1A season in almost three decades. The Wicklow native began playing mini rugby with the club before returning after school, and he is now entering his fourth season with the senior team.
Corrigan’s appointment gives the promotion story an important community dimension. He once represented the youngest generation watching from the sidelines; now he is the player leading the senior side onto the biggest stage in Irish club rugby.
The lock has also represented Leinster and Ireland, but his connection to Old Wesley remains central to the occasion. He has spoken of his pride at captaining the club and of the support provided by experienced figures such as Kieran O’Shea and Stephen Smyth.
Promotion built on patience and consistency
Old Wesley’s rise has been gradual. The club previously moved from Division 2A into Division 1B a decade ago, and many members of that team remain connected to the club. Their example helped inspire the current squad as it pursued promotion last season.
Under head coach Morgan Lennon, Old Wesley have developed their standards over a number of years. Their success was not based on one late-season surge, but on sustained progress across coaching, preparation and club culture.
- Old Wesley won 14 of their 18 Division 1B fixtures.
- They finished top of the table by one point.
- Automatic promotion was secured without the need for a play-off.
- The squad has already tested itself against several Division 1A opponents.
The challenge now is to transfer that consistency to a much more demanding level. Division 1A will punish errors more severely, while the weekly standard will be higher across the competition.
Clontarf provides an immediate examination
Clontarf are among the strongest clubs in the league and reached last season’s Division 1A decider. Castle Avenue is traditionally one of the most difficult venues in Irish club rugby, making the opening fixture a serious examination for the promoted side.
Old Wesley are not approaching the campaign simply hoping to survive. Corrigan has emphasised the need to measure the team against top-four standards, rather than comparing its performances only with last season’s Division 1B campaign.
The Dublin derbies will provide some of the season’s most anticipated fixtures. For Old Wesley, facing established clubs in the capital is part of the reason the players worked so hard to reach Division 1A.
A growing community behind the team
The club’s promotion has already created renewed interest around Energia Park. Attendances increased towards the end of last season, with families, supporters and Old Wesley minis turning up to watch the title run-in.
That connection could become one of the team’s biggest strengths. Corrigan grew up within the club and understands what it means for young players to see someone from their own pathway leading the senior side.
Old Wesley’s first home Division 1A fixture will therefore carry significance beyond the result. It will mark the latest step in a journey involving players, coaches, volunteers, families and generations of supporters.
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What comes next for Old Wesley?
The immediate focus is clear: prepare for Clontarf, learn from the earlier cup meeting and meet the physical and tactical demands of top-flight club rugby. The season will bring difficult results as well as important opportunities, but Old Wesley have already shown the resilience required to reach this point.
For a club returning to Division 1A after 29 years, the first objective is to establish itself. The broader ambition, however, is to build on promotion and create a sustainable future at the top level of Irish rugby.
The next chapter begins at Castle Avenue. Old Wesley’s long-awaited return will reveal how quickly their hard-earned momentum can translate into Division 1A results.
Article/Image Courtesy: Irish Rugby
