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St. Edward High School Rugby Tour to Ireland 2026 🇺🇸🏉🇮🇪

Eight Days of Rugby, Culture, and Unforgettable Memories

In April 2026, the St. Edward High School Eagles, one of the top-15 ranked boys’ rugby programs in the United States, swapped Cleveland for Ireland for an eight-day rugby tour that took them from Dublin to Galway to Cork. Three fixtures against Leinster and Munster club opposition, training with provincial coaches, a parents’ programme running alongside the players’ schedule, and a side-helping of Irish history, sport and scenery.

The 2026 tour was designed and delivered by Irish Rugby Tours, who worked with St. Edward’s coaching staff for more than a year to build a programme that would stretch the squad ahead of the 2026 USA Boys High School National Championships. The result was everything coaches, players and families had hoped for: elite competition, world-class coaching, cultural experiences, and the kind of bonding only a week on the road can produce.

About the Eagles

A little context for readers outside Ohio rugby: St. Edward is an all-boys Catholic school in Lakewood, just west of Cleveland. The rugby program has run since 1999 and has won three Ohio state championships (2012, 2013, 2016) and three Midwest titles (2012, 2016, 2019). Under head coach Greg Miranda the program has climbed from a national ranking of 49th to 4th in just two years, finishing fourth at the 2024 USA national tournament. They are one of only two Ohio teams – the other being city rivals St. Ignatius, to qualify for the 2026 Boys High School National Championships. This was a serious program coming to test itself in a serious rugby country.

Day 1 — Travel Day: Cleveland to Dublin

The tour officially began on Thursday, April 2, as the St. Edward travelling party departed Cleveland Hopkins International Airport bound for Ireland.

Excitement buzzed through the airport as players checked in, loaded bags filled with rugby kit, and prepared for the overnight journey to Dublin via Dallas–Fort Worth. For many players, this marked their first overseas rugby experience and the anticipation was high from the very beginning.

After a long day of travel, the team crossed the Atlantic overnight, ready to begin their Irish adventure.

Day 2 — Arrival in Dublin & First Irish Training Session

The Eagles landed in Dublin on Friday morning and were welcomed by their Irish Rugby Tours guides before heading into the city.

After checking in to the Generator Hostel in the heart of Dublin, the team wasted little time getting to work. That afternoon, the squad trained at the renowned Sport Ireland Campus under the guidance of guest coach Tony Smeeth, a session Irish Rugby Tours arranged specifically to introduce the squad to the faster tempo of Irish rugby.

The session focused on breakdown speed, defensive shape, and adapting to the higher tempo traditionally associated with rugby in Ireland. Despite the overnight flight, the players embraced the challenge and quickly settled into tour life.

While players trained, families explored Dublin’s famous Guinness Storehouse and Jameson Distillery, giving everyone an early taste of Irish culture as part of the dedicated parents’ programme arranged alongside the rugby schedule.

The evening concluded with a team dinner back at the hostel, where excitement built ahead of the first fixture.

Day 3 — Match Day One vs Newbridge RFC

Saturday brought the opening fixture of the tour as the Eagles travelled to County Kildare to face one of the strongest sides they would encounter all week.

Against the Leinster League champions, the Eagles were tested from the opening whistle in a physical, high-tempo contest at Newbridge RFC.

It was a steep but valuable opening test. The Eagles continued competing for the full 80 and showed flashes of strong attacking rugby against high-level opposition.

The game provided an early benchmark for the tour and gave the squad valuable experience against a polished Irish side known for its physicality and structured play.

Following the match, players enjoyed post-match hospitality with their Irish hosts before returning to Dublin to watch the All-Ireland League clash between Clontarf and St. Mary’s College. Experiencing live Irish club rugby gave the touring squad a closer look at the standards and traditions of the game in Ireland.

Day 4 — Gaelic Games & Leinster Rugby Experience

Sunday provided one of the most unique cultural experiences of the tour.

After attending Easter Sunday Mass in Dublin, the group headed to Na Fianna GAA Club to take part in an “Experience Gaelic Games” session.

Players learned the basics of Gaelic football and hurling, trying their hand at two of Ireland’s national sports. The session offered a fun and competitive break from rugby while introducing the squad to another major part of Irish sporting culture.

Later that evening, the Eagles attended the Investec Champions Cup clash between Leinster and Edinburgh. Watching elite European rugby live proved to be one of the highlights of the trip and gave players the opportunity to see some of the world’s top professionals in action.

Day 5 — Galway Bound & Elite Coaching Session

On Monday, the tour moved west as the Eagles departed Dublin for Galway.

The journey across Ireland gave players and families a chance to experience the Irish countryside before arriving in one of the country’s most vibrant cities.

That afternoon, the squad trained with top provincial coaches at East United FC in Galway, another session arranged by Irish Rugby Tours to build on the work completed earlier in the tour and to sharpen execution ahead of the next fixture.

Parents meanwhile enjoyed a guided walking tour of Galway before visiting Micil Distillery later in the evening.

The team spent the night recovering and preparing for a packed Tuesday that would combine sightseeing with another important match day.

Day 6 — Aran Islands, Cliffs of Moher & Victory over Loughrea RFC

Tuesday proved to be one of the busiest and most memorable days of the tour.

The morning began with a ferry trip to Inis Oírr in the Aran Islands, where players explored one of Ireland’s most scenic and historic locations.

After returning to the mainland, the group visited the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher before quickly switching focus back to rugby ahead of the second fixture of the tour.

This time, the Eagles delivered outstanding performances across both age groups.

Both squads recorded wins against Loughrea RFC – and produced strong all-round performances, combining physical defence with confident attacking rugby.

The U18s controlled the match effectively, limiting Loughrea to a single score, while the U16s delivered one of the most dominant displays of the tour with an outstanding attacking performance.

Both victories reflected the growth and improvement the teams had shown since arriving in Ireland earlier in the week.

Day 7 — Blarney Castle & Cork Training Session

Wednesday saw the group travel south toward Cork.

On the way, players visited the world-famous Blarney Castle and Gardens, with many taking the opportunity to kiss the legendary Blarney Stone.

The cultural side of the tour continued to play a major role throughout the week, giving players an opportunity to experience Irish history and traditions first-hand.

Later in the day, the squad trained at Virgin Media Park under guest coach Joe Sheehan.

With one final fixture remaining, the focus shifted toward finishing the tour strongly and building on the momentum from Galway.

Day 8 — Final Fixture vs Mallow RFC

The final day of rugby on tour arrived on Thursday evening as the Eagles travelled to Mallow RFC for their third and final fixture.

Both teams finished the tour strongly with impressive performances to close out the week.

The U18 match proved to be one of the closest contests of the tour, with the Eagles holding on for a hard-earned victory in a tense, competitive battle. The U16s continued their strong form with another commanding performance, showcasing the confidence and cohesion developed throughout the week.

Across both matches, the growth in the teams from the opening fixture in Dublin was clear to see. Following the games, players shared food and presentations with their Irish hosts, bringing the rugby portion of the tour to a fitting conclusion.

Day 9 — Homeward Bound

In the early hours of Friday morning, the Eagles departed Cork and began the journey home to Cleveland.

Over eight incredible days, the players experienced elite rugby environments, tested themselves against outstanding opposition, explored Ireland’s rich sporting culture, and strengthened friendships that will last long after the tour.

The tour was about much more than results. It was an opportunity for growth, learning, and representing St. Edward proudly both on and off the field.

A huge thank you goes to all host clubs, coaches, families, and supporters who helped make the 2026 Ireland Tour such a memorable success.

The Bigger Picture: Ohio, USA Rugby and a Sport on the Rise

The Eagles’ tour comes at a fascinating moment for American rugby. USA Youth & High School Rugby passed 50,000 registrations in 2024, up 12% on the year before; youth participation (ages 8–14) is up 15%, and there are now more girls than boys registered in the high-school fall season, a direct legacy of the USA Women’s 7s bronze medal in Paris.

Ohio is one of the strongest pockets of that growth. Rugby Ohio governs a busy state league, Rookie Rugby Cleveland is feeding new players into clubs across Brunswick, Hudson, Medina, Parma and Rocky River, and St. Edward and St. Ignatius are flying the Ohio flag at the 2026 national championships.

Tours like this don’t just shape a single squad, they bring world-class rugby exposure to the next generation of US players, and create the kind of cultural memories that keep kids in the game for life.

About Irish Rugby Tours

Irish Rugby Tours has been arranging school, youth, college, senior and supporters’ rugby tours for more than 20 years. We are fully ITAA-licensed and licensed by the Irish Aviation Authority (TA0760), and are members of the Sustainable Tourism Network.

Every tour is designed around the touring squad. We pitch fixtures at the right level, arrange training with provincial-standard coaches, build cultural programmes the players actually want to do, run a parallel parents’ programme so families can travel too, and provide full on-the-ground support from the moment your team lands.

Bring Your Programme to Ireland

Inspired by the Eagles’ tour?

We have limited 2027 and 2028 availability for US high school and college programs. Whether you’re a top-15 national side like St. Edward or a developing program looking for the experience of a lifetime, we’ll build a tour around your squad.

Talk to us: Contact Irish Rugby Tours

Learn more: School & Youth Rugby Tours   ·   Rugby Tours to Ireland   ·   Testimonials

Frequently Asked Questions

How long was the St. Edward rugby tour to Ireland?

Eight days on the ground in Ireland, plus travel, a Thursday-evening departure from Cleveland to a Friday-morning arrival home, with rugby, training and culture every day in between.

Where did the team play?

Three fixtures: Newbridge RFC (Leinster), Loughrea RFC (Galway/Connacht) and Mallow RFC (Cork/Munster). Both U18 and U16 squads played at Loughrea and Mallow.

Who organised the tour?

Irish Rugby Tours designed and delivered the full programme, fixtures, training sessions, guest coaches, accommodation, transport, cultural activities and a separate parents’ programme. See School & Youth Rugby Tours.

Can other US high school teams book a similar tour?

Yes! We run tours every year for US, Canadian, UK, Australian and South African programs. Get in touch via the contact page and we’ll build a tour around your squad’s level, dates and budget.

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Oxford Quins U13 Rugby Tour to Cork 2026 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏉🇮🇪

Three Days of West Cork Rugby, Adventure and Hospitality

In early May, 52 players, coaches, parents and siblings from Oxford Harlequins RFC swapped Horspath for the Wild Atlantic Way for a three-day U13 rugby tour to Cork. Two fixtures against proud West Cork clubs, an evening at Hannie Murphy’s, a swim at Abbey Pier, the West Cork Secret Adventure Centre and a day of adventure golf back at base in Clonakilty, short, sharp, packed, and absolutely the right way to introduce a youth squad to touring rugby.

The tour was designed and delivered by Irish Rugby Tours working with the Oxford Quins tour party led by Iain Dickson, with fixtures against Bantry Bay RFC on the Saturday and Muskerry RFC on the Sunday, with both clubs going out of their way to make the visiting Quins feel at home.

About Oxford Quins

A word on the touring club. Oxford Harlequins, known to most as Oxford Quins, was formed in 1996 from the merger of Oxford Marathons and Oxford Old Boys. Today it’s one of the largest youth rugby sections in Oxfordshire, with more than 420 registered junior players across boys’ age groups from U6 to U18 and girls’ from U12 to U16. The U13s are a typical Oxford Quins group: enthusiastic, well-coached, and clearly loving the game.

Day 1 — Saturday: Birmingham to Bantry Bay 🛫

The tour officially began at 05:45 in Birmingham as the touring party gathered for the Ryanair morning flight to Cork International. A short flight later, and a smooth airport transfer with Patrick Murphy, their Irish Rugby Tours guide for the trip, and Kavanagh’s Coaches, the group rolled into the Clonakilty Park Hotel mid-morning to drop bags, before the first big test of the tour: their opening fixture against Bantry Bay RFC.

Bantry Bay RFC is the focal point of rugby across the Sheep’s Head and Beara peninsulas, a club founded in 1926, with a membership of nearly 200 and teams at every age group from U6 to adult. Recent years have been a golden patch: their U16s won the Munster Club Cup and the seniors lifted their first J1 trophy in 15 years. The kind of club where a visiting U13 squad gets exactly the welcome you’d hope for.

After the match came the part the players will remember longest. A jump into the cold Atlantic at Abbey Pier (a Bantry Bay rugby ritual for visiting teams), then up to Hannie Murphy’s at the West Lodge for the post-match presentation. Pins, plaques and ties exchanged. Drinks and refreshments for everyone. Hospitality in West Cork is something else, and Bantry Bay RFC delivered.

Back to the Clonakilty Park Hotel for dinner, a debrief, and an early night – Sunday’s fixture wasn’t far away.

Day 2 — Sunday: Muskerry, then Adventure 🏉🌊

Sunday morning, breakfast, and on the bus for the second fixture of the tour against Muskerry RFC at Ellis Park in Inniscarra, twenty minutes west of Cork city. Muskerry is a Munster Junior League Division 1 club with a strong underage section running from U7 right up to U18.5, and a smart set of facilities that recently added floodlights. A textbook Munster club rugby morning.

Post-match food was served by the host club – another reason touring in Ireland is so different from playing fixtures at home. By the time the group got back to Clonakilty after lunch, the afternoon agenda had already shifted gear.

The afternoon was spent at the West Cork Secret Adventure Centre, high ropes, obstacle courses, the kind of activity that wrecks 30+ U13s in the best possible way. The hotel’s evening cinema took care of what was left of everyone’s energy. Lights out came easier than usual.

Day 3 — Monday: Adventure Golf and Home ✈️

The final morning kicked off with a swim session in the hotel pool followed by a cooked breakfast, before the squad walked across to the Clonakilty Park Adventure Centre and Adventure Golf, five minutes from the hotel and the perfect way to round off a tour with one more dose of competition.

By midday, bags were back on the bus and the group was on the way to Cork International for the afternoon flight to Stansted. Tour over.

Why West Cork Works for a U13 Tour

West Cork is one of our favourite parts of Ireland to send a youth tour. Three reasons, really.

First, the rugby. Munster Junior League clubs like Bantry Bay and Muskerry are the heartbeat of community rugby in Ireland – proper underage structures, properly competitive fixtures, and a welcome for visiting teams that turns first-time tourists into return customers.

Second, the geography. Clonakilty puts you within an hour of Bantry, Skibbereen, Inchydoney and the wider Wild Atlantic Way. You can fit two fixtures, an adventure activity, a beach and a cliff walk into three days without anyone feeling rushed.

Third, the hospitality. There’s a reason Hannie Murphy’s gets a paragraph in every tour write-up we do from this part of the country. The post-match piece – food, drinks, ties, pins, presentations, families chatting in the clubhouse, is what makes an Irish rugby tour different. West Cork does that piece better than almost anywhere.

About Irish Rugby Tours

Irish Rugby Tours has been arranging school, youth, club, college, senior and supporters’ rugby tours for more than 20 years. We are fully ITAA-licensed, Irish Aviation Authority licensed (TA0760), and members of the Sustainable Tourism Network.

Every tour is built around the touring squad, fixtures pitched at the right level, accommodation that fits the group (whether you’re 12 players or 152), age-appropriate activities alongside the rugby, and on-the-ground support from arrival to departure. For mini and U13 groups in particular, we know how much the parents’ programme matters and we design tours that travel well for the whole family.

Plan Your Club’s Cork Tour

Thinking about a U13 tour to Ireland?

West Cork is one of our most popular destinations for mini and youth rugby tours from the UK. Short flights from Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester and Stansted to Cork, family-friendly accommodation in Clonakilty, fixtures arranged against the right Munster Junior clubs, and a full activity programme for the whole touring party.

Talk to us: Contact Irish Rugby Tours  ·  info@irishrugbytours.com  ·  +353 1 685 6277

Learn more: Rugby Tours to Cork   ·   Mini Rugby Tours   ·   School & Youth Rugby Tours

Frequently Asked Questions

How long was the Oxford Quins tour?

Three days – Saturday to Monday – including two match days, an adventure afternoon, an adventure-golf morning and a swim session at the hotel.

Who did the squad play?

Bantry Bay RFC on the Saturday in West Cork, then Muskerry RFC on the Sunday at Ellis Park in Inniscarra. Both are Munster Junior League clubs with strong underage sections.

Where did the squad stay?

Clonakilty Park Hotel – a family-friendly resort with a swimming pool and adventure centre on site, in the heart of West Cork. See our Cork tour destination page for more options.

Can our club book a similar tour?

Of course, West Cork is one of our most popular regions for mini and U13/U14 tours from the UK. Get in touch and we’ll build a programme around your club, dates and budget.

How does travel from the UK work?

Most UK youth tours to Cork fly Ryanair direct from Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester or Stansted, door-to-door in under three hours, with the team coach waiting on arrival.

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Dolphin RFC U16s – Successful Rugby Tour to Bristol

Tour Blog – Friday 11th April

At 3.45 am the tour party gathered, the 25 players and 12 adults aka Big Kids heading to Bristol for the weekend. Its 3.45 am and they are all here on time, normally half of them cannot make training at 6.30 pm said Head Coach Gerry Harrington aka Head Big Kid to Ger Hodkinson, Team Manager aka Head Counter.

4.00 am and we headed and made good time in reaching Rosslare, there were a number of buses in the queue, Highfield, UL Bohs and Garryowen all went for the Stena Ferry while we went for Irish Ferries. The lads were popping sea sick tablets like they were going out of fashion, remembering last year when there were people injured and cars damaged on the ferry, thankfully this time the sea was like glass.

We arrived in Bristol at 4.30pm and thanks to George Hook of Irish Rugby Tours who arranged the Hilton the lads hit the pool before dinner. Later on the Big Kids gathered in the Reception Area aka The Bar and after a while Ciaran O’Reilly brought out his guitar and many of the players joined in. The trio of Murty, Dave and Mohie brought the house down with Murty doing his rap, more about this later, Eoin Hodkinson also played a few songs. When the players had back to the rooms, the Big Kids stayed for a few more Bars.

Saturday

Everyone made breakfast and we headed off to Bath which was c 45 mins away. Mick our Bus driver was a man of few words, he announced he would do his Tour Guide duties and explained that the Romans were going to call the place Washius Arsius before they settled on Bath, it is a beautiful city, the lads were glad to get sometime doing their 2nd most favourite thing- Shopping. Some tried to combine it with the No 1, eating, we also found that there was no express with Pizza Express.

We arrived at the Kingsholm Stadium for the local derby between Gloucester and Bath. We gathered behind the posts under the Corporate Boxes, two of the big kids disappeared, one had a friend with a corporate box and be brought along someone else who in fairness to him would have prepared to stay on the terraces with us, yeah, right. Well we did see Waldorf & Statler around half time leaning over balcony of their box offering us some prawn sandwiches.

The first half was quite poor, the handling etc from Gloucester was poor, even though Bath had 2 yellow cards. But the 2nd half had everything, 4 more yellow cards, two red, uncontested scrums, punch ups, penalty try for Bath, 90 seconds from the end to win by a point. We were not aware of the extent of the rivelry between the sides, we fell foul of a few of the locals as we shouted for Bath and Stringer and sang the Fields of Athenry.

We made our way towards the tunnel, it was the following day in newspaper photo’s that we saw bottles being thrown at the ref, we had arranged to meet Peter Stringer there, we had a Munster Flag so he would see us, a Steward asked us to put away the flag, “but its a Munster Flag” says Stringer, I know that but put it away anyway. He signed autographs and stood for photo’s before he had to join his colleagues in the dressing room. When we found Waldorf & Statler we made our way back to the bus.

We were under time pressure, the players wanted to go to The Mall at Cribbs Causeway, so we had just 30 mins in the hotel for dinner before Mick brought us to the Shopping Centre, with a detour. We later went to the Hollywood Bowl before we retired back to the hotel.

Sunday

We had to go back over the Severn Bridge for a game v Newbridge RFC, Mick says I don’t want to alarm you but the GPS says we are 1.5 miles from Newbridge and we have not seen a signpost yet. While Newbridge maybe small but the welcome was huge and warm.

The game got underway at 11.45 and the early engagements were fairly even before the home side crossed for an unconverted try. Soon enough Cameron O’Shaughnessy made a break into the Newbridge 22, seemed to be stopped but just broke through a few more tackles to score and leave an easy conversion to put Dolphin ahead. It was then the time for Ryan Simmonds aka the Future International, a member of the Dragons academy to show his abilities and skills, 12-7 to Newbridge. Just before half time the home side extended their lead to 17-7.

Dolphin then made a large number of changes, to give everyone equal game time and it was reflected on the scoreline as Newbridge clocked up a further 31 points before Emmett Gorman scored a try for Dolphin. Two of the players deserve a mention, 3rd choice but starting scrumhalf (there were 4 players who were not able to tog out) Eoin Dorgan who would have been U14 by Welsh age grades, he was fearless against much bigger opponents and had to take a lot of heavy tackles as well, we finished the game with S/H no. 5. The big Newbridge No8 ran towards the Dolphin line at pace with just substitute full back Ronan Moloney between him and the line. Well Ronan lined him up and took him down. stopping a certain try, it was no fluke because 3 mins later he was called upon again. He again was last man, he took down the ball carrier, he managed to get the ball away, who was up to take down no2, yes Ronan, a further offload and they were over in the corner- Well two out of three ain’t bad, now if Timmy was playing he would have loved that kind of challenge. I should also mention Nurse Catherine who dealt with the many bumps and bruises, thankfully this year we had no serious injuries.

After the game Newbridge RFC then provide food for us, it was great to see them sitting every second one and chatting and getting on well. When they adjourned upstairs they continued to mingle, when Ciaran produced his guitar, they played away together. Then it was time for the Passage 3, Dave, Murty and Mohie with a rap written by Murty, they brought the house down. The afternoon was very enjoyable, we asked them if they knew of Steve Ford and they did, we asked the lads did they know of Chris Rowe, the lads said no and the women just smiled.

While the players had discovered bargain shopping, the big kids discovered the bargains behind the bar (compared to Bristol).

We had many rugby discussions, it was very interesting to learn of the Welsh ways and the tips they gave us. We smiled to ourselves when they said they tried something different for fitness, kick boxing, we asked them do you see our number 10 over there, ask him how many Kick Boxing World Medals he has. The lads were still getting on well together, we noticed at one stage that both teams were gone, they all headed down to McDonalds together.

We had many discussions about a possible return visit by Newbridge, hopefully they will give it serious consideration.

We headed back to Bristol for dinner, and had a relaxing evening,after the obligatory court session the big kids retired early.

Monday

The Swimming Pool opened at 6am, there was a queue of players ready for a final swim. Breakfast was scheduled for 8am, with the bus ready to leave at 8.45, we could have had longer in bed but the Players wanted to stop at the Bridgend Outlet Centre on the way to the ferry. The crossing was very calm again so we arrived back a little ahead of time and Mick had as back to Musgrave Park for 9.30 pm

We would like to thank the parents who travelled, the Hilton Hotel, George Hook of Irish Rugby Tours and Mick from Mannings Coaches and of course all in Newbridge RFC. We would also like to mention the players, they are a great bunch of lads who did not cause us much trouble .What was great to hear was one of the guests staying in the hotel for the weekend in conversation with a couple of the parents complimented the players on their behaviour, anytime he came across them in the corridor, the pool etc they were well behaved, well done lads.

The players would like to thank Dominos Pizza’s, the delivery guy knew most of the players by name by Sunday night.

Well head big kid, what about next year.

 

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