Munster Club Christmas Events

With Christmas just around the corner here is what clubs are getting up to in the coming days to spread festive cheer.

Ballincollig RFC – Denis Quaid Memorial Cup

This St. Stephen’s Day, players past and present will come together in Ballincollig’s Tanner Park for their annual festive tag rugby event, the Denis Quaid Cup.

This event is held in memory of their dear friend and former player, Denis Quaid. It is always a special day in the club calendar – a chance for Senior Men, Senior Women, past players, and supporters to gather, shake off the Christmas dinner, and celebrate the true spirit of their club.

The rugby will be fun (but competitive! 😉), the atmosphere will be festive, and the bar will be open.

The event will kick off on Friday December 26th at 12pm with everyone welcome.

Cork Constitution – Rory Burke Memorial Cup

This St. Stephen’s day players young and old will tog out in their Presentation Brothers College or Christian Brothers College colours to play a good old fashioned derby game for the inaugural Rory Burke Memorial Cup.

The ‘Golden Oldies’ game will kick off in Temple Hill at 4pm on the 26th of December.

Tickets will be available on the gate for €10 with proceeds going to the charity HUGG.

Cobh Pirates – St Stephen’s Day Sponsored Swim

Cobh Pirates will host their annual Age-grade Boys sponsored swim this St Stephen’s Day.

The Age-Grade squads, parents and supporters a like will be taking a dip to raise funds for the season ahead.

The swim will take place at 12pm from Cuskinny Strand.

Following the swim, the festive fun will continue as a Past v Present players game kicks off back at the clubhouse in aid of Cobh Hospital.

Bantry Bay – Legends v Jesters

Bantry Bay will kick off their centenary celebrations with a match on the 27th of December as the Bantry Bay Legends face the West Cork Jesters.

Kick off in Ballycommane will be 2pm with funds raised on the day for Stand for Féile and the Jack & Jill Foundation.

Clanwilliam FC – Festive Fun Run & Walk

Clanwilliam will host their annual Fun Run and Walk on Friday the 26th of December with registration kicking off at 10am.

The walk is €10 per person or €20 per family with all proceeds going to the club.

For more info check out the poster below.

Scariff – A Stephen’s Day Tradition and a Rite of Passage for East Clare Rugby

For over three decades now, the Stephen’s Day charity match has held a special place in the sporting and social calendar of East Clare. What began as a simple festive fixture has grown into something far more meaningful a true rite of passage for generations of local players, a gathering point for the community, and a powerful opportunity to give back.

For many East Clare rugby players, pulling on a jersey on Stephen’s Day is more than just another match. It represents the moment when underage promise meets senior ambition. Long before structured development pathways and modern underage systems became the norm, this match served as the bridge between schoolboy rugby and senior football, and in many ways, it still does.

In fact, it would be no exaggeration to say that more East Clare players have graduated into senior rugby through this Stephen’s Day match than through any formal underage system. For countless players over the last 30 years, this was the first time they shared a pitch with established seniors, tested themselves physically and mentally, and proved they belonged at the next level.

The match has always been about more than the result. It’s about learning what it means to play for the club the physicality, the camaraderie, the responsibility, and the pride. Older players pass on standards and expectations, younger players bring energy and fearlessness, and somewhere in between, new senior players are forged.

Just as important is the sense of tradition. Former players return home for Christmas, boots are dusted off, old rivalries are renewed, and new stories are written. It’s a day when generations of East Clare rugby come together players, coaches, families, and supporters all sharing the same touchline and the same memories.

This year’s event proudly supports Milford Hospice, adding an even greater purpose to an already special occasion. Rugby has always been rooted in community, and this Stephen’s Day fixture reflects that at its very best. Every tackle, every cheer, and every raffle ticket sold helps support a charity that provides vital care to families across the region.

With an underage match kicking off the day, followed by the senior fixture, presentations, food and drink at the club, and the presentation of the Rob Madden Cup afterwards, Stephen’s Day remains what it has always been a celebration of rugby, community, and generosity.

For East Clare players past, present, and future, this match is more than a tradition. It’s where tradition begins