Through the good work of Club Community Rugby Officer Paddy McGrath Ards RFC were able to secure match day tickets for St Columbas, Portaferry enabling them to go and watch Ulster play Cardiff.

Paddy has been in the school working with different year groups including Year 8, this allowed them to enter the High School Cup for Year 8 for the first time.

St Columbas were narrowly defeated by Strangford College.

Ards Youth Player and Ulster Regional Develop squad player Adam Carroll and 1st XV second row Gareth McBurney presented the tickets to Principal Mr Breen and teacher Mr Campbell who have been a great support in introducing the rugby into the school.

Adam and Gareth discussed the different skills that players from a Rugby background and GAA background can bring to both sports. Paddy, also commented that through working within schools whose main sports are GAA such as St Columbas and Our Lady & St Patrick, Knock we have found that the skill sets compliment both sports, this was shown when Our Lady & St Pats had a friendly game against Campbell College on the 12th February before they played in the High Schools Cup.

The Rugby and GAA season don't clash as when one ends the other starts, so young sports people can play sport all year round; Craig Gilroy, Tommy Bowe and Rob Kearney are all current players of the professional game who played both sports.

Great work Paddy!