By Rory McKee
DANSKE BANK SCHOOLS’ CUP: REGENT HOUSE v BALLYCLARE HIGH SCHOOL
REGENT House are seeking to build on recent progress in the Schools’ Cup as the knockout stages of the competition get underway this weekend.
It has been an encouraging period for rugby at the Circular Road school. Having failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals for more than a decade, Regent have reached the last eight in each of the past two campaigns, bowing out to eventual finalists on both occasions – Royal School Armagh in 2025 and Ballymena Academy the year before.
Hoping to continue that upward trajectory, they have strengthened their coaching set-up by appointing the vastly experienced Neil Doak as joint head coach.
Former Ulster scrum half Doak shares duties with ex-Ulster chief Brian McLaughlin and brings a wealth of know-how to the role from coaching spells with Ireland U20s, Worcester Warriors and Georgia.
There is also a new director of rugby at the school in Ben Davison. He spoke to the Chronicle ahead of Regent’s round-of-16 tie against Ballyclare High School at The Beach on Saturday.
“The quarter-finals have proved to be a bit of a hurdle for us over the last few seasons,” said Davison.
“The objective for us this year is to get there again and hopefully go beyond that. Neil is obviously an extremely experienced coach and we hope that with him coming on board it can help us to get over the line and towards the latter stages this time.
“With Brian in the latter stages of his career, I suppose there is a degree of succession planning there too.”
Saturday’s (January 24) clash presents something of a déjà vu scenario, with Regent having faced Ballyclare in the group stages both this season and last.
The County Antrim school finished top of Group A this time around and, while Regent have had the better of recent meetings, Davison insists nothing will be taken for granted.
“They’re quite a familiar rival, we played them in the group in Ballyclare last year and then again this year at home when we won 24-10. It was do-or-die for us when we played them having lost to Omagh,” he explained.
“I wouldn’t go as far as saying we are favourites, but having beaten Ballyclare on the last two occasions and with home advantage, we know we can beat them. But they’ll be looking to catch us by surprise because we’ve had some really good showdowns of late.
“They will feel like it’s their time now – hopefully we can continue our winning streak against them.”
As is par for the course in school age rugby, Regent have had to manage significant personnel turnover as Year 14 players move on.
“We’re certainly in the middle of a transition,” Davison continued. “Last year we lost a crop of maybe six or seven from upper sixth and we’ve had to replenish our squad.
“We have quite a few fifth formers in the team now, a lot of the medallion squad have come straight into senior rugby and have gone straight into the 1st XV or certainly into the squad of 23.
“Huge credit to them because they’re really stepped up,” he said. “There are some playing their third season of senior rugby, like our captain Tom Bell, and others who are only really in the door and are starting to make their mark.”
Breaking the traditional stranglehold Belfast heavyweights RBAI, Methody and Campbell College have enjoyed on the Schools’ Cup remains a challenge, but Davison believes the competition is becoming more open.
“Once the Schools’ Cup reaches the knockout stages, it might be cliché, but it really is anyone’s game.
“The fact of the matter is you’re playing these matches in January and February and conditions can be just about anything. Of course there are going to be favourites, but I do believe anybody can beat anybody on their day.”
He went on: “Last year, we lost to Royal School Armagh by just a couple of points at their place and they went on to reach the final. Rainey made it to the semi-finals last year who we had beaten by 30-plus points, so there are teams of a similar calibre to us who are getting all the way down to the last four, which I think is a sign that if you can peak at the right time and maybe get some rub of the green, there’s no real limit on how far you can go.
“You have to believe that you do have a chance otherwise there’s not much point taking to the field. The Belfast schools lose a crop of star men every year who you think they’ll never replace but they seem to do it.
“There’s a life cycle to senior rugby and hopefully we’ll get a chance to showcase some of our talent.”
Regent House are encouraging the local community to get behind the team, with a big breakfast being held in the school canteen ahead of Saturday morning’s match. Open to everyone, tickets are priced at £5, with supporters able to enjoy a bacon or sausage and egg bap before taking in the action.
