23 Apr Men’s J3 XV: The Portugal Tour 2026 Diary
The “Mighty 3s” took their talents (and their legendary thirst) to the Iberian Peninsula this April. Here is the official (and slightly redacted) account of the first senior club tour since 2006.
Day 1: Tactical Departures & Cabin Crew Standoffs
The “Mighty (and occasionally Inglorious)” Men’s J3 squad assembled at the heroic hour of 7:15 am on Thursday morning. With warmer climates on the horizon, early tactical discussions focused on the essentials of high-performance nutrition, specifically the subtle flavor profiles of Coors, Moretti, and Heineken.
To set the mood, DJ Breen opened proceedings with a sunrise rave set, ensuring the squad was mentally and musically prepared for the rigors of travel. At Dublin Airport, the group welcomed its newest and most stoic member: “Daisy” the Cow, the official tour mascot. Leadership roles were swiftly assigned, including the essential “Snake” and a very busy “Safety Officer.”
Hydration levels remained at peak performance during boarding, and the team harmonies were just reaching a crescendo before being firmly shut down by a Ryanair cabin crew legend named “Bart.” It must be said that Bart brought very little to the party and showed a disappointing lack of appreciation for J3 vocal arrangements.
Upon landing in Portugal, a delayed transfer required immediate contingency planning. The squad responded with professional poise: increasing hydration levels and transitioning into “summer attire” (shorts and flip-flops), much to the bemusement of the locals. By the time we reached the accommodation, the first “training session” began poolside. Forwards and backs ran through lineout variations in the water, where standards were high in execution and even higher in poolside fashion. Sam Fairbrother’s “budgie smugglers” made a particularly strong showing, setting a sartorial bar that few could hope to reach.
The evening concluded in the Old Town, focusing on team bonding and refining try-scoring celebrations some of which were so avant-garde they reportedly caught the eye of local media.
Day 2: The Beach Session & “Fluid” Laws
Friday morning’s management meeting identified a critical issue: hydration levels had dipped below tour standards. Immediate remedial action was taken. A 10:00 am “Beach Session” was called to restore focus. DJ Breen, now supported by DJ Paulie, provided the soundtrack while the Captain carefully selected a “hydration strategy” for those who had underperformed the night before.
By 2:00 pm, the full support staff including local “masseuses,” water carriers, and nearby refreshment retailers were on hand. Sênior Dixon took charge of the pitch setup, marking out a full-sized rugby field in the sand. In the absence of an official referee, traditional laws (offside, high tackles, or indeed any laws) were temporarily suspended in favor of “Tour Rules.”
What followed was a free-flowing exhibition of rugby that delighted a growing crowd of curious onlookers. The post-session recovery was equally demanding; a small number of players were so committed to the “rest” phase that they opted for impromptu naps on the way back to the hotel. In true Navan spirit, however, no man was left behind.
The evening saw the squad move to the New Town for further “celebration refinement.” Multiple outfit changes were required, the locals were treated to several (unsolicited) renditions of Zombie, and the mental preparation continued long into the night.
Day 3: The “Spanish Detour” & Match Day
Match day brought immediate drama. Front-row stalwart Ledger was ruled out following an unfortunate collision with the hotel steps a fixture he did not win.
Further complications arose when the Portuguese RFU entered “crisis mode,” resulting in the game being relocated to Cadiz, Spain a modest four-hour cross-border commute.
A 10:00 am departure was eventually achieved once the final squad members had completed their overnight hydration protocols. DJs Breen and Paulie kept morale high during the trek, while the squad conducted a video-free review of the previous day’s beach antics.
Arriving in Cadiz to a blistering 31-degree heat, Navan reached Ciudad Deportiva Municipal Rafael Sanchez to find our hosts, Cr Atletico Portuense, fully warmed up (partly due to our punctual 90-minute delay). The pitch was “firm,” the dust was rising, and officials confirmed that the irrigation system had been “postponed” for the decade.
The opening ten minutes suggested the squad may have slightly over-indexed on “preparation,” as Portuense crossed for four early tries. However, the J3s soon found their rhythm. Once a few Portuense players were “loaned” to Navan for competitive balance, the tries began to flow from Andy Beggy, Andy Kiernan, Rob Hoban, Darragh Creamer and Dom Muldoon.
Match Highlights included:
- Sam Fairbrother’s electric, scorched-earth run down the wing.
- Gearóid Kelly’s highly efficient 30-second cameo.
- Darragh Creamer crossing for his first-ever Navan try.
- Aaron Puddick’s now-legendary “Slow-Motion Gazelle Leap” over a ruck, which drew genuine cries of “Olé!” from the Spanish crowd.
- Damien Dixon completing a full 80-minute performance a rare and heroic feat on a tour of this nature.
Post-match, the true spirit of rugby took over. Gifts were exchanged, refreshments were shared, and it was unanimously agreed that rugby was the real winner (mostly because nobody was quite sure of the final score). The return journey saw the squad revert to full hydration mode, with guest performer Piotr joining the DJs to ensure morale remained sky-high all the way back to base.
A massive thank you to our hosts in Portugal, Spain and to everyone who made the 2026 J3 Tour an unforgettable chapter in the club’s history!