View source for Ards RFC

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby team 
   | teamname          = Ards RFC
   | image             =  
   | caption = 
   | fullname          = Ards Rugby Football Club  
   | union             = [[Irish Rugby Football Union|IRFU]]<br />[[Ulster Rugby|Ulster]] 
   | nickname          = Black Knights
   | founded           = 1928 
   | ground            = Hamilton Park, [[Newtownards]] 
   | capacity          = 
   | countryflag       = IRE  
   | countryflagvar    = Rugby
   | president         = Warren Simpson
   | rugby director    = Stephen Nutt
   | coach             = Palmer Eccles and David Thompson   | captain           = Ryan Upritchard
| pattern_la1         = _whiteborder
| pattern_b1          = _whitecollar
| pattern_ra1         = _whiteborder
| pattern_sh1         = 
| pattern_so1         = _whitetop
| leftarm1            = 000000
| body1               = 000000
| rightarm1           = 000000
| shorts1             = 000000
| socks1              = 000000
}}

'''Ards RFC''' (Ards Rugby Football Club) is a [[Rugby union|rugby]] club based in [[Newtownards]], [[County Down]], [[Northern Ireland]], playing in the Ulster Rugby Championship Division 2. It is affiliated to the [[Ulster Rugby|Ulster Branch]] of the [[Irish Rugby Football Union]]. The club currently fields three adult teams and a women's team, North Down Women, who are a combination of players from Ards, Bangor and Donaghadee. Three youth teams also play at under-18, under-16 and under-14 levels. There is also a rapidly developing girls' junior section and a very successful mini rugby section in the club. The club works in close collaboration with local schools such as Regent House Grammar School, Movilla High School and Strangford College who provide much of the playing talent at the club.

==Foundation==

On 11 April 1928, Ards Rugby Football Club was formed at a meeting in Newtownards Academy pavilion.{{Citation needed|date=July 2007}} The first competitive game was played on 13 October 1928. Ards RFC played most of their early years in the Ulster Junior Leagues.

==Senior Status==

In the 1961-62 season Ards won the Towns Cup for the first time captained by Bobby Haslett. In 1977-1978 season Ards achieved senior status when they gained promotion to the [[Ulster Senior League (rugby union)|Ulster Senior League]] by defeating Ballymena 2nd XV 12-0 in an Ulster League Section 2 playoff at Shane Park, Instonians. After a downturn in fortunes in the 1990s Ards were relegated from senior rugby in season 2000-2001 to Qualifying League Section 1. However, in the 2002-2003 season Ards won the AIB All Ireland Qualifying Round Robin playoff and were promoted for a second time to the [[All-Ireland League (rugby union)|All-Ireland League]]. In 2015 Ards were relegated from the All-Ireland League and now play in the Ulster Rugby Championship Division 2.

==Honours==
Boston Floodlit Cup, Bangor: 1
1976-77
*[[Ulster Senior Cup (rugby union)|Ulster Senior Cup]]: 2
** 1984-85, 1986–87
*[[Ulster Senior League (rugby union)|Ulster Senior League]]: 1
** 1983-84
*[[Ulster Towns Cup]]: 2
** 1961-62, 2002–03
*[[Ulster Junior Cup]]: 1
** 1976-77
* Ulster Junior League 1: 3
** 1971-72, 1974-75, 1977-78
* Qualifying League 1: 1
** 2002-03

==Notable Former Players==
===Internationals===
;{{flagicon|British and Irish Lions}} [[British and Irish Lions]]
 {|
|- style="vertical-align:top"
||
* [[Nigel Carr]] 
* [[Phillip Matthews]]
* [[Paddy Mayne]]
||
|}
;{{ru|Ireland}} 
{|
|- style="vertical-align:top"
||
* [[Nigel Carr]] 
* [[Kenny Hooks]]
* Harry Millar
||
* [[Phillip Matthews]]
* [[Paddy Mayne]]
|}
;{{ru|New Zealand}} 
* [[Scott Robertson (rugby union)|Scott Robertson]]

{{small|'''Source''':<ref name="ardsrugby2">{{cite web|url=http://www.ardsrugby.co.uk/a/history-8456.html?page=2|title=The Ards Internationals|publisher=www.ardsrugby.co.uk|accessdate=15 February 2019}}</ref>}}

==https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/ards/a/history-8456.html?page=5==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/ards/ Ards RFC website]

{{Rugby union in Ireland}}
{{Ulster Rugby Links}}

[[Category:Rugby union clubs in Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Rugby union teams in Ireland]]
[[Category:Rugby clubs established in 1928]]
[[Category:Sport in Newtownards]]
[[Category:Rugby union clubs in County Down]]