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Civil Service Rugby Club
Civil Service NI Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in Maynard Sinclair Pavilion of Belfast, Northern Ireland. The club was formed in the autumn of 1922 by staff of the newly established Northern Ireland Civil Service. After some years of success playing at a junior level, the club was given senior status by the Ulster Branch in the 1928/29 season and celebrated by winning the senior league at its first attempt. Up until World War II, Civil Service teams enjoyed high placings in the league tables but struggled to convert good performances into trophies. Playing performances however improved steadily throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Service junior teams won league and cup competitions and the 1st XV won the Ulster Senior League in 1969-70. They also enjoyed something of a tradition in sevens winning a number of the premier competitions in Ulster at that time. In more recent times Civil Service has competed at more modest levels as it no longer has senior status. However, the Club also enjoyed successes in league and cup competitions in the 1990s. The 1st XV won the McCrea Cup in 1998, followed by triumphs in Qualifying League 3 and the North Down Cup. Club Captains2024 - J. Mooney 2022 - 24 - C. Stone 2020 - 22 - J. Duffin 2019 - 20 - P. Hoskins 2018 - 19 - H. Matheson 2016 - 18 - B. Morgan 2014 - 16 - C. Burns 2012 - 14 - M. Murray 2011 - 12 - B. Scott 2009 - 11 - D. Cartland 2007 - 09 - J. P. Cartwright 2006 - 07 - S. Gray 2004 - 06 - M. McLaughlin 2003 - 04 - A. Millar 2002 - 03 - A. P. Neeson 2001 - 02 - M. Goldsborough 2000 - 01 - E. Williamson 1999 - 00 - G. Ellis 1997 - 99 - M. McGuigan 1996 - 97 - M. Curran 1995 - 96 - B. McMillan 1994 - 95 - I. T. Millar 1993 - 94 - P. Foy 1991 - 93 - B. McMillan 1989 - 91 - C. G. H. O'Connor 1988 - 89 - R. J. Millar 1986 - 88 - S. McMorran 1985 - 86 - K. McCollum 1984 - 85 - E. J. H. Weir 1982 - 84 - J. P. Bill 1981 - 82 - S. Robinson 1980 - 81 - E. J. H. Weir 1979 - 80 - M. S. R. McLean 1978 - 79 - W. J. McKinney 1976 - 78 - J. G. Rodgers 1975 - 76 - W. J. McKinney 1974 - 75 - J. W. Ferris 1973 - 74 - D. M. Crothers 1972 - 73 - W. F. Rodgers 1971 - 72 - T. F. Dunlop 1969 - 71 - L. M. Hunter 1966 - 69 - T. Johnston 1965 - 66 - D. H.Bell 1964 - 65 - J. Hanna 1963 - 64 - J. J. Kyle 1962 - 63 - S. W. Lindsay 1961 - 62 - T. Johnston 1960 - 61 - R. J. Anderson 1958 - 60 - D. E. K Boyd 1957 - 58 - S. W. Lindsay 1956 - 57 - W. Neagle 1955 - 56 - K. H. Clarke 1953 - 55 - J. F. Davidson 1951 - 52 - J. D. W. Mills 1949 - 51 - J. B. Mills 1947 - 49 - J. A. D. Higgins 1946 - 47 - R. J. Christie 1945 - 46 - S. J. Edgar 1944 - 45 - J. A. Young 1943 - 44 - S. J. Edgar 1942 - 43 - J. A. D. Higgins 1941 - 42 - J. A. Young 1940 - 41 - W. D O'Neill 1939 - 40 - S. J. Edgar 1938 - 39 - R. Shaw 1937 - 38 - S. M. Morgan 1935 - 37 - R. M. Greeves 1934 - 35 - H. O. H. O'Neill 1932 - 34 - G. C. H. Siggins 1931 - 32 - S. M. Morgan 1930 - 31 - H. O. H. O'Neill 1929 - 30 - G. C. H. Siggins 1928 - 29 - L. B. Jago 1927 - 28 - R. R. Butler 1926 - 27 - G. C. H. Siggins 1924 - 26 - T. Shanks 1923 - 24 - W. Jebb 1922 - 23 - H. Frame Club Presidents2024 - M. Magill 2021 - 24 - S. McMorran 2019 - 21 - N. Palmer 2016 - 19 - M. Heath 2014 - 16 - B. McCreight 2013 - 14 - G. Rodgers 2008 - 13 - S. McMorran 2006 - 08 - D. Fusco 2004 - 06 - J. G. Rodgers 2002 - 04 - S. B. Mercer 2000 - 02 - W. L. McDowell 1998 - 00 - W. D. McKeeman 1996 - 98 - J. L. Townson 1994 - 96 - E. R. Wilkie 1991 - 94 - S. W. Lindsay, U.D. 1989 - 91 - J. N. Campbell 1988 - 89 - Sir K. Bloomfield, K.C.B. 1987 - 88 - D. Fusco 1985 - 87 - L. E. Arneill 1983 - 85 - K. R. Boyd 1982 - 83 - H. C. Lucas 1981 - 82 - D. D. Owens 1980 - 81 - J. A. Lewis 1979 - 80 - R. S. MacElhinney 1978 - 79 - R. J. Anderson 1977 - 78 - R. J. Simms 1976 - 77 - T. Mc. Nesbitt 1975 - 76 - S. W. Lindsay, U.D. 1974 - 75 - C. J. Platt 1973 - 74 - J. A. Lewis 1972 - 73 - J. A. D. Higgins 1970 - 72 - L. E. Arneill 1969 - 70 - S. J. Edgar 1967 - 69 - L. C. Dennis, M.B.E. 1964 - 67 - R. R. Butler, O.B.E. 1962 - 64 - Sir R. Dunbar, K.B.E., C.B. 1960 - 62 - W. A. Leitch, C.B. 1959 - 60 - L. B. Lagoe 1955 - 59 - Prof. H. G. Lamont, C.B.E. 1953 - 55 - E. A. F. Johnston, C.B.E. 1951 - 53 - J. F. Caldwell, Q.C., C.B. 1949 - 51 - R. S. Brownell, C.B.E. 1947 - 49 - W. H. Smyth, M.B.E. 1946 - 47 - J. A. McKeown, C.B.E. 1945 - 46 - H. V. V. Thompson, O.B.E. 1943 - 45 - E. S. Scales, C.B.E. 1939 - 43 - J. Taylor, O.B.E. 1938 - 39 - G. S. Robertson 1937 - 38 - J. I. Cook, C.B., O.B.E. 1935 - 37 - Capt. C. H. Petherick, C.B.E. 1934 - 35 - S. Sloan, O.B.E. 1933 - 34 - Brig. Gen. H. G. Young, C.I.E. D.S.O. 1932 - 33 - G. C. Duggan, C.B., O.B.E. 1931 - 32 - R. E. Thornley, C.B. 1928 - 31 - Lt. Col. Sir. W. B. Spender, K.C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C. 1925 - 28 - F. H. Kerr 1922 - 25 - Major G. A. Harris, C.B.E., D.S.O. Adult RugbyThe health of the current club is built on the foundations put in place by the likes of former 2nd XV Manager Aaron Thompson and Welsh flanker Bryn Sturgeon who helped bring in a raft of new players over a decade ago. Indeed this group of players became the spine of the senior sides over the past decade and led to a resurgence in form and fortune in 2012 the 2nd XV got promotion to the Junior rugby section of Ulster rugby. The Club went on to reclaim both the Wolfhound Cup and the Old Campbellian's Boxing Day Cup after years without their hands on the respective cups. Historic 1st XV League Performance
The club had its most successful league campaign in almost a decade under then Captain Michael Murray 2012-13. HonoursUlster Senior Cup: Runner up 1933-34 Ulster Senior League: Winners 1928/29, 1969/70 Ulster Junior Cup: Runner up 1967-68 McCrea Cup: Winners 1997-98 Distinguished PlayersThe Club has a long tradition of producing players, referees and officials who gained international and representative recognition. Several players were capped by Ulster and Ireland, while others who passed through the ranks of Service teams achieved similar honours, including British Lions status. The Club has provided 4 Presidents of the Ulster Branch and others who served on various committees. The Club's most distinguished son was perhaps Dudley Higgins, an accomplished full back, who gained caps during the 1948 Five Nations Championship, and in doing so became one of the elite band of players who have won a Grand Slam for Ireland. Dudley went on to become President of the Ulster Branch in 1960/61 and of the IRFU in 1976-77. References
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