Old Wesley RFC

What Old Wesley RFC does

Old Wesley Rugby Football Club is a member-owned, volunteer-run community rugby club founded in 1891 and headquartered at Energia Park in Donnybrook, Dublin D04 EY28, with secondary grounds at Ballycorus, Dublin D18 YY20. The club is one of only 12 competing in the Energia All Ireland League (AIL) and was promoted to Division 1A in April 2026 after winning Division 1B, ending a 29-year absence from the top tier. It operates six playing squads (1st through 5th XV plus Under 20s), an extensive Mini & Youth section covering ages 6-18, Girls Rugby, Touch Rugby, and Ireland's only Visually Impaired Rugby programme.

The club's technology footprint is modest and operational rather than core to its value proposition. Membership and venue access are managed through Smartclub Cloud, including QR-code entry to the front door, gym, and bar (replacing physical Savills cards in 2022), bar-card top-ups, event booking, and pavilion member payments via the Smartclub mobile app (iOS and Android). Player and family memberships are processed through the IRFU's Rugby Connect system. Communications run on MailPoet newsletters and active social profiles (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, X). No proprietary AI, ML, or data products are present.

Revenue is generated through six streams: annual membership fees (recurring subscription processed via Rugby Connect and Smartclub), tiered sponsorship (title sponsor Forvis Mazars, plus official, silver, and gold sponsor tiers including SOPREMA Ireland, Turmec, LVP Renewables), on-site bar revenue, pre-match lunches and event hospitality (including the annual Players Ball), clubhouse and pitch hire (€50-€1,000 per booking; €200/hr pitch hire), and a recurring Club Draw lottery. The club monetizes its Donnybrook clubhouse for corporate and private events through partnerships with Ali Davis Foods, Berman & Wallace, and D4 Deli.

Name

Old Wesley RFC

Legal name

Old Wesley Rugby Football Club

Website

https://oldwesley.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1891

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Old Wesley RFC is a 1891-founded member-owned community rugby club in Dublin, Ireland, operating six adult squads, Under 20s, mini and youth sections (ages 6-18), Girls Rugby, Touch Rugby, and Ireland's only Visually Impaired Rugby programme. It competes in AIL Division 1A and serves members, sponsors, and event-hire customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Amateur Rugby Club

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Spectator Sports (71121), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Recreational & Intramural Sports Programs (MPAKACAG), Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

Keywords

• Amateur rugby club
• Community rugby programmes
• Youth rugby development
• Clubhouse venue hire
• Rugby membership services

Headquarters

HQ city

Donnybrook

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees for playing members, pavilion members, and family memberships. Processed through Rugby Connect and Smartclub systems.
2. Sponsorship: Title sponsorship from Forvis Mazars, official club sponsors, and silver/gold sponsor tiers. Includes SOPREMA Ireland, Turmec, LVP Renewables, and numerous other commercial sponsors.
3. Clubhouse Venue Hire: Function room, players bar, and clubhouse hire for corporate events, birthdays, and private functions. Catering partnerships with Ali Davis Foods, Berman & Wallace, and D4 Deli.
4. Bar Revenue: On-site bar facilities generating revenue from members and event attendees, with member discounts applied via Smartclub app.
5. Pre-Match Lunches and Events: Match-day hospitality including pre-match lunches, occasional lunches with guest speakers, and annual events like the Players Ball.
6. Club Draw: Regular club lottery/draw as a fundraising mechanism for the club.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Old Wesley RFC is a community rugby club that delivers competitive and recreational rugby participation across senior, adult, under-20, mini, youth, girls, touch, and visually impaired programmes, and complements this with clubhouse venue hire, gym and physio facilities, bar and hospitality services, and a club draw lottery. The club operates from Donnybrook (Energia Park) and Ballycorus in Dublin and runs its membership, access, and payments through Smartclub Cloud and IRFU Rugby Connect.

Product overview

Old Wesley RFC is a community rugby club founded in 1891 offering a comprehensive rugby programme across multiple formats. The club operates senior rugby (1st XV now in AIL Division 1A), four additional adult teams (2nd-5th XV), Under 20s, extensive Mini & Youth sections, Girls Rugby, Touch Rugby, and Ireland's only Visually Impaired Rugby team. Beyond rugby, the club provides facilities and services including clubhouse event hire, gym and physio, pre-match lunches, the club draw lottery, and a TRY Rugby introduction programme. The club utilises Smartclub Cloud for digital membership management including QR code access to facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Senior Rugby (1st XV) in AIL Division 1A The club's premier senior rugby team competing in the All Ireland League Division 1A, the top tier of Irish club rugby. Eoin Deegan won AIL Division 1B Player of the Year 2025-26.
• Junior Adult Rugby (2nd XV to 5th XV) Multiple adult amateur rugby teams (2nd XV, 3rd XV, 4th XV Colts, 5th XV) competing in Metro League and various cup competitions. The 4th XV won the Metro League Division 5 Final in 2026 against Lansdowne.
• Under 20s Rugby Under 20s team competing in the JP Fanagan Premier League 2 and Purcell Cup, with a returning head coach for 2026/27.
• Mini & Youth Rugby Age-grade rugby programmes for children aged 6 to 18, including boys and girls teams spanning Under 6/7s through Under 18s, with a structured progression pathway into adult rugby.
• Girls Rugby Dedicated girls rugby programme for Under 8 through Under 16 age groups, featuring Give It A Try introductory sessions and participation in Leinster and Metro leagues.
• Touch Rugby Non-contact version of rugby with a dedicated touch rugby team and membership, featuring spring seasons and Magic Round tournaments.
• Visually Impaired Rugby (VIR) Ireland's only Visually Impaired Rugby programme, providing adapted rugby for blind and visually impaired individuals and participating in international tours.
• Clubhouse Hire & Event Venue Clubhouse facilities available for hire including the main upstairs room (50-150 guests sit-down, 200 cocktail-style), Player's Bar (50-100 capacity), suitable for birthdays, functions, corporate events, table quizzes, and disco events. Catering partnerships with Ali Davis Foods, Berman & Wallace, and D4 Deli.
• Gym & Physio Facilities On-site gym and physiotherapy facilities available to members, with access managed via the Smartclub QR code system.
• TRY Rugby Programme Six-week introductory rugby programme for new players wanting to learn the sport.
• IRFU Give It A Try Programme IRFU programme hosted at the club, introducing new players, particularly girls, to rugby through structured coaching sessions.
• Club Shop Online and physical club shop offering Old Wesley branded merchandise and apparel.
• Club Draw Regular club lottery/draw providing fundraising support for the club with various prize tiers.
• Pre-Match Lunches and Hospitality Events Match-day hospitality including pre-match lunches before 2:30pm kick-offs, occasional lunches with guest speakers, and annual events like the Over 60's Annual Dinner (€50 per person).

Quantifiable outcome

• Promoted to AIL Division 1A after winning 2025-26 Division 1B title
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Forvis MazarscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor of Old Wesley RFC. Logo prominently displayed on club materials and website header as the primary club sponsor. Partnership provides significant financial support for club operations.
• SOPREMA IrelandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Club Sponsor joining for the 2026/27 season. Building and construction materials company providing commercial sponsorship support.
• TurmecminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver Sponsor for the 2026/27 season. Global equipment company headquartered in Ireland, providing sponsorship funding.
• LVP RenewablesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSolar energy sponsor for 2025/26 season. Family-operated renewable energy company founded in 2009, led by Managing Director Richard White. Specializes in advanced solar solutions.
• Ali Davis FoodsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoutique catering company recommended for corporate and high-end events of 50+ guests. Provides stunning dishes including sit-down plated meals, buffets, and grazing boards.
• Berman & Wallace Catering Company DublinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading contemporary catering company catering for events from small private dinner parties of 50 guests to larger events.
• D4 DeliminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal company providing traditional rugby fare including hot dishes, BBQ, and finger food for parties of all sizes.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• UCD RFC: University College Dublin's amateur rugby club, AIL competitor with strong adult and youth sections. Shares Dublin geography, AIL competition, and talent pool with Old Wesley, making it a direct competitor for student and metropolitan players.
• Terenure College RFC: South Dublin amateur rugby club with multi-team adult structure (1st-4th XV), youth/mini rugby, and historic AIL participation. Directly comparable to Old Wesley on Dublin geography, multi-team adult structure, and member-driven community model.
• Blackrock College RFC: Long-established Dublin amateur rugby club with extensive adult and youth sections and historic AIL/Leinster Senior Cup pedigree. Direct competitor in Dublin amateur rugby market with comparable multi-team structure and community-membership model.
• Bective Rangers FC: Historic Dublin amateur rugby club with multiple adult teams, long heritage, and active youth section. Directly comparable Dublin metropolitan peer sharing the same AIL/Leinster competitive ecosystem as Old Wesley.
• Lansdowne FC: Dublin-based amateur rugby football club competing in the All Ireland League, with multiple adult teams and a long heritage. Direct peer on geographic, league, and structural dimensions with Old Wesley, having competed in the same Metro and AIL structures for over a century.
• Clontarf RFC: Dublin northside amateur rugby club competing in the AIL with multiple adult teams and strong youth/mini rugby programmes. Comparable community-membership model, multi-team adult structure, and Dublin catchment as Old Wesley.
• Dublin University FC (Trinity College Dublin): Dublin-based AIL rugby club affiliated with Trinity College Dublin, with comparable multi-XV adult structure and youth development focus. Operates in the same Leinster Branch and AIL ecosystem as Old Wesley and is a direct competitor for Dublin metropolitan players.
• St. Mary's College RFC: Dublin-based AIL rugby club with multiple adult teams and a strong youth rugby pipeline. Comparable in size, scope, and operational model to Old Wesley as a Dublin metropolitan amateur rugby club.

Regional players

• Garryowen FC: Limerick-based amateur rugby club and AIL competitor with multi-team adult structure and significant heritage. Similar operational profile and AIL membership but geographically separate from Old Wesley, making it a comparable peer rather than a direct competitor.
• Cork Constitution FC: Cork-based amateur rugby club and long-standing AIL Division 1A competitor with extensive adult teams and strong youth/mini sections. Comparable in operational scale and club structure but serves a different (Munster) geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OldWesleyRFC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCIxtadk5FIQtew4UxwH7bBg/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/oldwesley
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/old-wesley-rfc
• Instagraminstagram.com/oldwesleyrfc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Old Wesley RFC