SLIGO RUGBY CLUB

PROGRESSIVE YEAR

A wonderfully progressive 2023 for Sligo Rugby Club was the culmination of unstinting work – on and off the pitch – thanks to a multitude of coaches, players, volunteers and supporters. Among Sligo’s successful youth teams in the 2022-23 season was the side that won the Connacht Girls U-16 Cup – Sligo defeated Claremorris Colts, 22-14, in the final at The Sportsground.

Sligo also won the Connacht Boys U-18.5

Cup and the Connacht Boys U-18.5 League Division One title, while Sligo were runners-up in the Connacht Boys U-14 Cup. Poppy Garvey, a member of the club’s Girls U-18.5 team, was called up to the Ireland U-18 women’s squad. Another rising teen talent, Cliodhna O’Sullivan, became the first Sligo rugby player to go through the club’s ranks, from youth to senior level, and subsequently be picked on the Connacht women’s rugby team.

Sligo Rugby Club were named Club of the Year at the Connacht Rugby Awards and in June of last year Sligo Rugby Club’s Mickey O’Hehir, pictured, was appointed Connacht Rugby president for the 2023-24 season. Also in June, Sligo Rugby Club senior men’s player Kuba Wojtkowicz – a former Ireland U-20 player – earned a full senior cap for Poland when playing against Georgia. He scored a try in that game, a 52-26 loss for Poland. Wojtkowicz became the first Sligo Rugby Club player to feature in a senior international while still with the club.

Last month Sligo Rugby Club officially opened its new dressing-rooms at Hamilton Park, the latest phase in the ongoing enhancement of its facilities in Strandhill.

Jean McConnell was club president for the