Sports Ireland has a fresh Energia All-Ireland League storyline to follow, with Queen’s University aiming to turn the page after last season’s difficult campaign. A strong opening win away to Shannon has given the Belfast students early belief, but Cashel’s visit to Dub Lane will provide a serious test of whether this is the start of a genuine revival.
Queen’s return to Division 2A after relegation from 1B, where they managed two wins in 18 matches last season. The result at Shannon, traditionally one of the league’s more demanding away trips, offered an immediate response and earned the team five points before the second round.
Sports Ireland focus turns to Queen’s rebuild
For vice-captain Flynn Longstaff, the new campaign is about more than league position. The tighthead prop wants Queen’s to show the character and quality that have made the club a significant force in Ulster rugby.
“Last season’s gone now,” Longstaff said, with the squad determined to treat each weekend as a fresh opportunity. That attitude was evident in the opening round, when Queen’s travelled to Shannon intent on playing their own game rather than dwelling on the disappointment of the previous year.
The victory also reflected a changing squad. University rugby brings regular movement, with new students arriving, injured players returning and others progressing through provincial pathways. Queen’s have had to bring those different groups together quickly.
A one-club approach
New head coach Jonny Graham has placed a strong emphasis on unity. Several Queen’s players spent pre-season in the Ulster environment, while others gained valuable exposure through Ulster League fixtures. Those matches provided opportunities for players who might not otherwise have featured at senior level.
Longstaff believes that experience can raise standards when the players return to Dub Lane. The aim is to ensure the lessons learned with Ulster benefit the entire Queen’s squad, creating a consistent environment across the club.
That collective approach is especially important for a student side still finding its identity. Players have arrived from different countries and rugby backgrounds, while returning members have had to adapt to new responsibilities. The message from the coaching staff is straightforward: whether players are involved with Ulster or Queen’s, they remain part of one club.
Longstaff’s own rugby journey
The season is also a significant one for Longstaff. The 22-year-old Philosophy student is returning from an injury-affected campaign and has recently completed a demanding pre-season with Ulster. He featured during their preparations before rejoining Queen’s for the start of the AIL.
His progress is notable because he began his school rugby career in the back row before moving into the technically demanding role of tighthead prop. Former Ulster hooker Niall Annett, now involved with Queen’s, has played an important role in that transition.
Longstaff has also benefited from a strong rugby family background. His father, Shaun, won 15 caps for Scotland and played at the 1999 Rugby World Cup. While Shaun was a winger, Flynn has developed in one of rugby’s most specialised positions, where scrummaging, tackling and close-range carrying are central to his game.
His route began at Bangor Rugby Club before progressing through Campbell College, Queen’s and the Ulster system. That pathway has connected him with several players who have developed alongside him, reinforcing the importance of club and community rugby in producing future talent.
Cashel bring another early-season test
Queen’s and Cashel both enter the second round with five points, making Saturday’s fixture an intriguing early contest in Division 2A. It will be the first meeting between the clubs in three years and the first at Dub Lane in four.
The previous home encounter ended in a thrilling 38-31 Queen’s victory, but Longstaff knows the current Cashel side will present a different challenge. His team’s review of Cashel’s opening performance highlighted a side capable of playing with structure and ambition.
- Queen’s will look to build on their away win at Shannon.
- Cashel arrive with confidence after collecting five opening-round points.
- Several Queen’s players could make their first AIL appearance at Dub Lane.
- The key battle may be whether Queen’s can impose their attacking style under pressure.
For Queen’s, the priority is not to make sweeping predictions after one result. Instead, Longstaff and his teammates are focused on consistency, freedom and rediscovering the enjoyment that was missing during parts of last season.
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What comes next for Queen’s?
The win at Shannon cannot erase last season, but it has given Queen’s a platform. The Cashel game will show whether the students can carry that intensity into their first home fixture of the campaign.
With Longstaff taking on a leadership role and a new coaching structure bringing the squad together, Queen’s have a clear opportunity to establish a different identity in Division 2A. The next step is simple: repeat the standards shown in round one and make Dub Lane a difficult place for opponents to visit.
Article/Image Courtesy: Irish Rugby
