| 1928
|
11th
April 1928: Ards Rugby Club formed at meeting in Newtownards
Academy pavilion.
First
game in League competition (Minor League, Division A) played
on 13th October 1928.
Winners
of Division A |
| 1929/30
|
2nd
XV formed. |
| 1931/32
|
Ards
upgraded to Junior League.
Ards
win their Junior League Section. |
| 1932/33
|
Ards
played in Provincial Towns' Cup for first time. |
| 1933/34
|
Blair
Mayne captain of Ards. |
| 1934/35
|
Ards
move to grounds at bottom end of South Street, Newtownards;
grounds occupied for nearly 40 years. |
| 1945/46
|
Ards
win Junior League, Division B. |
| 1949/50
|
Ards
reach semi-final of Towns Cup for first time. |
| 1955/56
|
Ards
win their section of Junior League |
| 1960/61
|
First
visit of an Ulster Branch President's XV to Ards. |
| 1961/62
|
Ards
win Towns' Cup for first time. |
| 1964/65/66
|
By
virtue of record over two seasons, Ards promoted to top section
of Junior League for first time. |
| 1968/69
|
Ards
joint winners of their section of Junior League.
Ards
2nd XV win Forster Cup - club's first success in the competition.
|
| 1969/70
|
Ards
2nd XV retain Forster Cup |
| 1970/71
|
Ards
finish runners-up in top section of Junior League. |
| 1971/72
|
Ards
move to Hamilton Park.
Ards
win Junior League and associated overall winner's Cup. |
| 1972/73
|
Ards
reach Junior Cup final for first time. |
| 1974/75
|
Ards
win Junior League and associated Past Players' Cup.
Application
made for Senior status. |
| 1976/77
|
Ards
win Junior Cup for first time.
Ards
win Boston Cup - sponsored Senior Floodlit competition.
|
| 1977/78
|
Ards
win Section 2 of Ulster League (Junior).
Promoted
to Senior League |
| 1978/79
|
30th
September 1978: Ards win their first Ulster Senior League
game v Academy.
Nigel
Carr first Ards Senior League player to be selected for
Ulster. |
| 1979/80
|
Ards
reach semi-final of Senior Cup for first time.
Barry
Calvert became first Ards Senior League player to play in
all Ulster games;also first to gain Irish Trial
Over
6 acres of additional land acquired, giving club 4 pitches
and extensive training area at Hamilton Park complex. |
| 1982/83
|
Ards
qualify for Senior League championship semi-final play-off
by finishing second in Group A |
| 1983/84
|
First
major overseas tour to Canada.
Ards
win Senior League under captaincy of Teddy Sloan.
Ards
reach Senior Cup semi-final. |
| 1984/85
|
Ards
win Senior Cup under captaincy of Teddy Sloan, by beating
Instonians in the final.
Ards
achieve runners-up in Senior League.
Philip
Matthews first Ards man to be capped for Ireland out of
Ards colours - against Australia.
Nigel
Carr wins first cap against Scotland.
Matthews
and Carr play in all of Ireland's Triple Crown winning games.
Matthews,
Carr and Ian Moles play on Ulster side which won inter-provincial
championship for first time since 1976.
All
three played in Ulster side which beat Australia.
Ards
2nd XV promoted to top section of Junior rugby.
Ards
U20 XV win major provincial trophy for first time. |
| 1985/86
|
Ards
win their section of Senior League (under captaincy of Ian
Moles) and qualify for championship play-off.
Nigel
Carr selected for British Lions. |
| 1986/87
|
Ards
win Senior Cup under captaincy of Brian McLaughlin by beating
Bangor in the final. |
| 1987/88
|
Ards
6th XV win McCambley Cup - club's first success in this competition.
|
| 1988/89
|
Ards
6th XV retain McCambley Cup and also winners of overall League
at their level. |
| 1989/90
|
Ards
joint winners of Senior League Section 2.
Ireland
cap for Kenny Hooks. |
| 1990/91
|
Ards
finish second in Ulster Senior League.
Ards
6th XV win all trophies up for competition at Minor level.
|
| 1991/92
|
Ards
coach D.A. McMaster appointed Ulster Coach. |
| 1993/94
|
Ards
enter All-Ireland (Insurance Corporation) League.
Regent
House School, Newtownards, win Ulster Schools' Cup for first
time. |
| 2002/03 |
Ards
win the Towns Cup beating Coleraine 27-20 in the Final at
Ravenhill.
Ards
1st XV win the Ulster Qualifying League by one point from
Coleraine.
Ards
1st XV win through the AIB All Ireland Qualifying Round
Robin and are promoted
to
AIB All Ireland League Division 3. |
| 2003/04 |
Ards
U14s win the Super Tens trophy |
| 2004/05 |
Ards
5th XV win the McCambley Cup
Ards
U16s win at the International Youth Rugby Festival in Cork |
