#MunsterStartsHere Video Series | Thomond RFC

The #MunsterStartsHere video series has returned to once again highlight the fantastic work that goes on behind the scenes to develop the game across the province.

The videos will showcase the key roles played by clubs, schools, volunteers, and development officers when ensuring the growth of age-grade structures and community programmes.

In this episode, we visited Limerick’s Thomond RFC to learn about their redevelopment projects and the impact they will have on the surrounding communities.

Speaking about his history with the club, former president and now club trustee, Eddie Hughes said:

“I started playing rugby with Thomond in the late 70s/early 80s, and I played right through up to adult level. From there, I went on to join the management committee as chairperson of the underage. I then became president, and currently, I am a trustee in the club and an underage coach. I have been doing the underage coaching for over 25 years now.”

The works in the club commenced in late 2025 and will see the expansion of the grounds. An existing boundary wall will be demolished and an additional pitch and walkway built, which in turn will create a more inclusive and larger space for the club’s growing senior, youth, and “Rugby for All” teams.

Speaking about the developments, Hughes said:

“First of all, it is very important to us to have a connection with our community. We are surrounded by Moyross on three sides and by Woodview on one side. So we are trying to engage with them positively all of the time.

“But that is not even enough for us, we want to get further out into the community and to engage with even more people and create a really positive, inclusive rugby club that is for everybody.

“A real watershed moment for us was the deconstruction of our boundary wall with Moyross, and I suppose, even more importantly, what a structure like that represents. We like to think that we are tearing down not just physical barriers, but everything that those represent metaphorically as well.

“The new pitch has been an idea in our head for over 20 years. Over the last eight years, thanks to Limerick Regeneration and Sports Capital Grants, we have been able to make that a reality, and the biggest part of it will be to reach out even further into our community, be able to engage with more people, and get them down into the rugby club.

“We want to be a thriving hub of the community.”

Check out the video in full below.

#MunsterStartsHere Video Series | Thomond RFC