24 Dec A Christmas 2025 Message from the President of Navan RFC
My fellow members and friends of Navan RFC, what a year 2025 has been for our Club as we marked the second half of our Centenary Season with a very well-attended Gala Ball, and many of our underage teams still involved in Donnybrook at the finals weekend of the various leagues and cups.
The brief respite (for some!) of the summer led up to the launch of the Centenary Book covering Navan RFC’s first 100 years on September 3rd, the anniversary date of the formation of the Club.
This event was held in the Club and was absolutely packed with generations of current and former players, families, sponsors and well-wishers representing a big portion of that century.
It was a great night on many fronts with many old friends reconnecting and – for those on the Centenary Book Committee – finally seeing their hard work in print. Well done on an outstanding piece of work!
The new season soon got under way, and we have already seen a number of Navan players earning representative caps at both provincial and national levels, as well as our Women’s 3rd XV getting up and running.
December 5th in the Newgrange Hotel saw our biggest Christmas Corporate Lunch ever, with nearly 400 people enjoying the stories, jokes (and singing) of the inimitable Nigel Owens.
The day was a tremendous success, and a massive “Thank you” goes on behalf of the Club to the organising committee, the sponsors and the attendees. We’re going to have a tough job to top that in December 2026!
Santa then had a very successful visit with our minis on Saturday December 13th – he came by helicopter as Rudolf and the other reindeer are resting up for their big outing later this week!
Meanwhile in the background, another team has been working hard on Navan RFC’s new website, which is now live at www.navanrugby.com.
This will become the focal point for club news and match reports. Other features will be added to the new site shortly, including expanding the club shop.
A huge thank you to the website committee who have made it happen, and who are committed to helping it to grow.
To all of our squads and players, their families, and to all of our supporters, volunteers and sponsors – I wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas, and best wishes for the New Year.
I hope to see many of you in the Club over the break as we resume the tradition of some fun rugby on St. Stephen’s Day before the normal leagues resume in January.
I wish you all continued success in the second half of the rugby season.
And don’t forget what seems to be turning into an “All of Club” trip to Galway on the weekend of January 24th/25th.
We will have mini and youth challenge matches in Crowley Park before our Men’s 1st XV play Galwegians RFC.
After that, nearly 300 Navan supporters will head down the road to watch Connacht host Leinster in the grand opening of the Dexcom Stadium. Be sure to wear your Navan gear!
Yours in rugby,
Eddie Lyons
President 2025/26
Navan RFC