Ballinrobe Rugby Club launch new Bears team

Bears have been released into the West of Ireland - and no, it’s got nothing to do with Eamon Ryan and the Green Party.

Following a trend adopted by the Westport Bulls, Tuam Tigers and Ballinrobe Rockets, to name a few, Ballinrobe’s mini rugby players shall ever more be known as the Ballinrobe Bears. Over 30,000 years ago, bears roamed free on the West Coast of Ireland before they vanished mysteriously.

Ballinrobe RFC are delighted to reintroduce the burly animals into the South Mayo region - rest assured, these bears will only be mauling within the confines of The Green by the banks of the River Robe.  

From August, these bears will have their own unique gear and crest that gives club’s underage setup its own identity. Ballinrobe Rugby Club PRO, Evan Gannon, told The Mayo News, that the the move to re-brand the club’s minis team was inspired by other clubs who have adopted similar names. 

“By creating an identity for them and giving them a name it’s a lot easier for the players to enjoy it,” said Gannon. “It’s also a bit more fun for them but it also gives them their own little identity to develop as rugby players and to have a bit of fun with it as well.”

Ballinrobe has put in sterling work to develop its underage setup in recent years. In 2018, it had approximately 35 underage players, a number that has since nearly quadrupled to over 140 registered players.

The club has also put a big emphasis on female participation. It has gone from having no registered female players in recent years to having between 30 and 40 registered at underage.

Gannon said that there has been a ‘brilliant’ all-round reaction to the launch of Ballinrobe Bears. “Parents are loving the idea that they’ll be their own little name and their own little club within a club,” he said. “We hope to see the benefits from that when there’s going to be training gear put on sale in August.”

Launching Ballinrobe Bears on social media, Ballinrobe rugby club said that their players ‘ can display all the characteristics of a bear on the rugby field showing off their ferocious talent while enjoying their playful side’.

“Bears demonstrate respect for their environment and the people around them, reflecting the values we hold in high regard,” read a statement.

“Mother bears are devoted to their families and feel a strong sense of responsibility towards the younger members of the family. At Ballinrobe RFC, we uphold these same principles by fostering a supportive atmosphere for our young players to develop and excel through playing rugby.”