The MBA Rugby World Cup Championship Trophy was formally welcomed back to the place it has called home for nine out of the last eleven years, UCD Smurfit, at a reception on the evening of Thursday May 19th.
In celebration of the achievements of UCD Smurfit’s championship Rugby team and those who have gone before them, a brand new glass trophy case was erected in the Student Common Room and formally inaugurated at last Thursday’s event. The trophy was proudly placed in the case by 2011 team captains Andy Kane and Eoghan O’Dwyer, and sits amongst other gold and silver shining examples of UCD Smurfit rugby triumphs in years past. O’Dwyer thanked the team and coach Barry Gibney, saying “without Barry’s experience and the team’s tenacity and fortitude, we would never have brought this trophy home”.
Representing UCD Smurfit School at the reception were Prof. Frank Roche, School Director, MBA Programme Director Orla Nugent, and Specialist MBA Programme Manager Michael McDonnell.
Prof. Roche hailed the rugby team as a vehicle through which the different Smurfit programmes were all brought together and their role in giving strength to the UCD Smurfit School name on such an international stage. He acknowledged the achievement as “a proud moment for all UCD Smurfit students, faculty, and alumni.”
Ms. Nugent thanked the men for their hard work and perseverance, making special note of the efforts of player Shane Horan, who single-handedly took the initiative to raise the funds necessary to send the team to the USA to compete in the 2011 MBA Rugby World Cup in Danville, VA in April with sponsorship from Smurfit Kappa, CRH, Hunky Dory’s, O2, HH&C and Dunreidy Engineering.
The challenge now passes to those who will make up the 2012 UCD Smurfit Rugby Team to emulate the achievements of the past and make a little history for themselves along the way.
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– Megan Molloy FT 2011 & Michael McDonnell, MBA Programme Manager
Photos by Nargiza Kalmamatova