26 Aug From Rugby to Gridiron: Danny Farrell Trades the Scrum for the Endzone
Over the summer months, many of our Navan RFC players keep their fitness sharp and test their skills across various sporting pursuits. One fantastic example is Youth player Danny Farrell, who has taken up American Football with the West-Dublin Rhinos!
Danny, a 16-year-old second-rower at Balreask Old, recently shared his experience balancing both sports:
“My name is Danny Farrell, I’m 16 years old, I play second row for Navan RFC and Defensive End for the West-Dublin Rhinos. I started playing rugby 8 years ago and this is my first time playing American Football. The coaches of the Rhinos contacted me and asked if I was interested in playing.”
“Before this year I had only watched Canadian Football, but I have taken a real liking to this format. The Rhinos have become like family for me over the last couple of months. Rugby means everything to me, I have loved it since childhood and will love it forever. Making the Leinster North-East representative team two seasons ago really pushed my career forward, and I’ve made lifelong friends at Navan RFC.”
While gridiron might seem like a brand-new venture for Danny, Navan RFC shares a deep and proud connection with American Football that stretches back over a decade:
In the mid-2010s, Balreask Old served as the home ground for the Meath Bulldogs, hosting domestic American Football games right here in Navan for a number of seasons.
Balreask Old has also hosted international representative fixtures for The Irish Wolfhounds (Ireland’s National American Football Team). In October 2023, Navan provided the backdrop for a historic moment in Irish gridiron history.
The Irish Wolfhounds secured their first-ever competitive European Championship win on our pitch with a dramatic 18-13 victory over the Dutch Lions.Trailing by a single point with seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Ireland scored the winning touchdown when Tight End (and former Galway All-Ireland Hurling champion) John Hanbury reeled in a pass from Matthew O’Meara!
It is brilliant to see our youth players adapting their rugby skill set, lineout athleticism, physical tackling, and work rate, to new sports during the off-season.
Everyone at Navan RFC wishes Danny the absolute best of luck in his gridiron endeavours with the West-Dublin Rhinos, and we look forward to seeing him back in the Navy and Sky Blue jersey for the upcoming 2026/27 rugby season!
(Photos: Gli Amici Dello Sport Instagram)