Buccaneers Touch Rugby

The ITA Men’s League Division 1 also kicked off at Corinthians RFC on Saturday with Buccaneers
Men’s Touch team in action. Buccs took on Racoon West in their first game of the day with
Rory Silke scoring from a scoop move and Isaac Wilkins also getting on the scoresheet. Racoons triumphed 9-2 in the end. They then faced Belfast side Eastside Eagles in their second game of the day.
Paul Gavin got Buccs off the mark with a quick tap penalty which caught the 'Easts' defence asleep. Nigel So followed up with a score from a scoop move and Cooper So scored twice including one from a reverse quickie. Buccs fifth try from Jack Delaney came on the end of an excellent driving move involving Jack, Isaac Wilkins and Oisín Moran. Despite Buccs best efforts however, the Belfast side triumphed 13-5. It was a tough afternoon for Buccs as they were missing a host of key players such as Ben Wolfe, Jack Gordon, Colm McNally, Feidhlim Byrne and Cian Copelin but there were a few players making their Men’s League debuts such as Isaac Wilkins and Cooper So who both impressed. Former Ireland Men's 40s star Rory Silke also impressed on his return to action.
Buccaneers Men: Paul Gavin (captain), Nigel So, Cooper So, Oisín Moran, Denis Delaney, Jack
Delaney, Anthony Quinn, Paul Connaughton, Rory Silke, Isaac Wilkins.

Three Buccaneers Touch Rugby players were part of the winning ITA Women’s Club Championship side on Saturday. Buccs combined with Connacht rivals Racoon West from Galway for the competition in Corinthians RFC in Galway and they were represented by the trio of Niamh Purtill, Aoife Purtill and Chloe O’Connor.
In their first game the Buccaneers – Racoon West amalgamation took on the experienced DLSP side from Dublin. The DLSP ladies played a clever game in attack and they shrewdly exploited some slack defending by Buccs-RW to power to a 6-3 victory. Scorers for Buccs-RW were Rita Ibanez (2) and Buccs’ Niamh Purtill. It was understandable that the amalgamated side had some teething troubles in their first game together. In their second game they faced Greystones Ladies and they finally clicked into gear with a powerful attacking display winning 10-2 with a hat-trick from captain Risa Egerter, a brace each from Buccs’ players Aoife Purtill and Chloe O’Connor and further tries from Georgia Codyre, Emma Horan and Rita Ibanez.
This win qualified Buccs-RW for the final and a rematch with DLSP. The Dublin ladies started favourites as they were unbeaten to that point. However they were never able to get into the game as the westerners dominated the first half leading 2-1 at half-time with scores from Edel Houton and Risa Egerter. Buccs-RW continued where they left off in the second half and three further tries from Risa (2) and Emerald House stretched out their lead. A late reply from DLSP left the final score 5-2 to Buccaneers – Racoon West.
Overall it was a hugely impressive display from the western ladies as they made an experienced and strong team look ordinary.
Strong running from the likes of Niamh and Aoife Purtill, Georgia Codyre and Laura Gaffney as well as solid defence from Emerald House, Rita Ibanez and Chloe O’Connor were key in fashioning this victory.
Top scorer was captain Risa Egerter with 6 tries.

Buccaneers – Racoon West Ladies: Aoife Purtill, Niamh Purtill, Chloe O'Connor, Laura Gaffney,
Risa Egerter (captain), Edel Houton, Emma Horan, Georgia Codyre, Emerald House, Rita
Ibanez.

Buccaneers Touch get a mention in this month's Sideline Chat newsletter from the excellent 7th Touch website, required reading for any Touch enthusiast. There is a piece on Buccs victory in the recent Liam Carroll Cup with MVPs Jack Gordon and Niamh Purtill name checked.

The Ireland Women's Open team are looking for applications for Head Coach. Apply to the email address below if you are interested

It was a great day for Buccaneers Touch at the Liam Carroll Cup in Abbottstown yesterday as they took home the Division 2 title, beating Old Wesley Dragons in a final drop-off.
Buccs went through the competition unbeaten with a win against DLSP and draws against the Dragons and DSC Greystones leaving them top of the table after the round robin. They duly took out DLSP in the semi-final before facing the Dragons once more in the final.
The game ended 2-2 at the end of normal time and proceeded to an extra-time 'drop-off' where both sides drop down from 6 to 4 players for a 2 minute period. Tries from Aoibhín Tynan and Jack Gordon in the drop-off sealed a fantastic victory for Buccs.
Jack Gordon and Niamh Purtill were also named Male and Female MVPs for the tournament. Congratulations to both of them.

Best of luck to Buccaneers Mixed Touch team who play in the Liam Carroll Cup tomorrow in the Sport Ireland Indoor Arena in Dublin.

There were several Buccs Touch players in action at the Ireland U18 and U20 screening at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday last with Jack Delaney, Jack Gordon, Aoibhín Tynan, Oisín Moran and Mollie Quinn all present.
Well done also to Niamh Purtill who was selected for the Westmeath Ladies Minor Squad for 2026.

Here is Buccaneers Touch's calendar of Club Competitions for 2026. This is the first time that the ITA have produced a comprehensive annual calendar of club events. This is a very positive development that will hopefully grow participation in Touch countrywide.