Lansdowne Rugby is the premier Irish-American club of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Founded by Irish American immigrants in 1993, Lansdowne started as the epicenter of rugby for new Irish American immigrants. As the club grew, the club developed a reputation as the most welcoming environment in local amateur sports, welcoming immigrants from all across the world, as well as introducing rugby to Americans for the first time ever.
Lansdowne Rugby New York’s name and crest is inspired by Lansdowne FC, who compete in the AIL in Dublin, Ireland, and both clubs have committed to one day play a friendly against each other. Lansdowne have played friendlies against other AIL sides such as St. Mary’s College, and the Guyana 7’s National Team.
Lansdowne compete in Empire GU, moving up and down Divisions 2 and 3, having won multiple Division 3 titles, and have proudly hosted players who went on to have successful careers in professional and international rugby.
Lansdowne RFC NY originally played in The Bronx at Van Cortland Park in their early history, celebrating post games at The Lansdowne Bar, before moving to Yonkers. The bhoys currently play at Tibbetts Brook Park on Saturdays in the Spring and Fall, and celebrate post-matches at Moriarty’s Bar & Restaurant on McLean Avenue, and host occasional social events at Murphy’s Bar in Astoria.