View source for Midleton RFC

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Use Irish English|date=July 2021}}
{{more references|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby team |
  |  teamname = Midleton
  |  image    =
  |  fullname = Midleton Rugby Football Club
  |  union = {{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Irish Rugby Football Union|IRFU]]
  |  branch= [[Munster Rugby|Munster]]
  |  nickname =  
  |  founded  = {{start date and age|1967}}
  |  ground   = Towns Park, [[Midleton]]
  |  capacity = ~400 
  |  coach  = Robbie Doyle
  | captain = Idris Rqibi
  |  president = Christy Lordan
  |  league = [[All-Ireland League (rugby union)#Division 2C|A.I.L Div. 2C]]
  | season = [[2024–25 All-Ireland League (rugby union)|2024–25]]
  | position = 2nd.<ref>[https://www.irishrugby.ie/all-ireland-leagues-old/men/league-tables/ A.I.L. Tables 2024–25]</ref>
  | url = https://midletonrugby.com/
  |  pattern_la1= _blackborder  |pattern_b1= _blackstripesthintothick|pattern_ra1= _blackborder | pattern_so1 = _2 black stripes
  |  leftarm1=cc0000|body1=cc0000|rightarm1=cc0000 
  |  shorts1=000000 |socks1=cc0000
}}
'''Midleton RFC''' is an [[Ireland|Irish]] [[rugby union]] club that plays in [[2024–25 All-Ireland League (rugby union)#Division 2C|Division 2C]] of the [[All-Ireland League (rugby union)|All-Ireland League]].<ref name="about">{{cite web|url = http://midletonrugby.com/ | website = midletonrugby.com | title = Midleton RFC website | date = | accessdate = 20 April 2021 | quote = Midleton RFC is a IRFU Senior Club playing in Division 2C of the All Ireland League }}</ref>

==History==
The club was founded in the 1927/28 season, but disbanded in 1934. Midleton RFC was reformed on 4 March 1967.

After a number of decades in the junior leagues, Midleton attained senior status after the 1997/1998 campaign with a 30-7 playoff victory over [[Sligo RFC]].<ref> {{cite web|url = https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-40124045.html | title = Midleton rugby club were battling to stay senior before season was cancelled | website = echolive.ie | date = 26 March 2020 | accessdate = 5 September 2022 | quote = The popular east Cork club, whose 30-7 win over Sligo in Portlaoise in 1998 signalled their elevation from junior, were in danger of returning there unless results picked up }}</ref> Midleton were beaten finalists in the [[Munster Senior Cup (rugby union)|Munster Senior Cup]] in 2003.<ref> {{cite web|url = https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2003/05/05/shannon-win-their-15th-munster-senior-cup/ | title = Shannon win their 15th Munster Senior Cup | website = munsterrugby.ie | date = 5 May 2003 | accessdate = 5 September 2022 }} </ref> As of 2010, the club was playing in [[AIB Division Three|Division Three]].<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.irishrugby.ie/2010/04/16/midleton-and-nenagh-face-off-in-munster-derby/ | website = irishrugby.ie | title = Midleton And Nenagh Face Off In Munster Derby | date = 16 April 2010 | accessdate = 20 April 2021 }}</ref> By 2020, the club was playing in Division 2C of the [[All-Ireland League (rugby union)|All-Ireland League]].<ref name="about"/>

There was a revamp of club facilities in the mid-2000s.{{fact|date=April 2021}}

==Club honours==
* [[Munster Junior Cup]] (2) 1997, 1998
*Cork Charity Cup (3) 1999, 2003, 2006
*Cork Charity Shield (4) 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 
*Munster Junior Clubs' Challenge Cup (1) 1997
*Munster Junior League Division 1 (2) 1996-97, 1997-98
*Munster Junior League Division 2 (1) 1994

==Notable players==
Former [[New Zealand national rugby union team |All Black]] fullback [[Christian Cullen]] made a 20 minute appearance for Midleton in a friendly match against [[Cork Constitution]] in March 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.irishrugby.ie/2006/03/28/in-pics-munster-squad-training/ | title = In Pics: Munster Squad Training | website = irishrugby.ie | date = 28 March 2006 | quote =  A sight for sore eyes – legendary All Black Christian Cullen in training with the Munster squad. The Paraparaumu-born Cullen, still New Zealand’s record try scorer with 46 tries in 58 Test matches, made his comeback from a long term shoulder injury recently in a Munster “A” game, having also put in a 20-minute cameo for Midleton in a friendly against Cork Constitution. | accessdate = 6 September 2022 }} </ref><ref> {{cite web|url = https://extra.ie/2021/01/10/sport/rugby/rugby-clubs-future | title = Rugby's grassroots hit hard as clubs around the country face grim future | website = extra.ie | date = 10 January 2021 | quote = Christian Cullen's appearance at Towns Park is etched in the club's folklore. It's a long story, but the former All Black will forever be a Midleton player after that cameo.| accessdate = 6 September 2022}}</ref> Other former players have included:

*{{flagicon|New Zealand}} [[Jason Holland (rugby union)|Jason Holland]]
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Junior Sifa]]
*{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Christy Condon]]
*{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[John O'Neill (rugby union, born 1973)|John O'Neill]]
*{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Diarmuid O'Sullivan]]
*{{flagicon|IRE|rugby union}} [[Mark Donnelly (rugby union)|Mark Donnelly]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.midletonrugby.com/ Midleton RFC]

{{AIB League}}
{{Rugby union in Ireland}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Midleton Rfc}}
[[Category:Rugby union teams in Ireland]]
[[Category:Midleton]]
[[Category:Rugby union clubs in County Cork]]
[[Category:Rugby clubs established in 1927]]
[[Category: All-Ireland League rugby union clubs]]
[[Category:Munster Senior League (rugby union) teams]]
[[Category:1927 establishments in Ireland]]

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