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sport · Saturday 26 September 2026 · 2:30pm 
Buccaneers RFC v Bruff - AIL Division 2B South Opener
At Dubarry Park · Clonbrusk, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
At Dubarry Park · Clonbrusk, Athlone, Co. Westmeath
Buccaneers RFC open their 2026/27 Energia All-Ireland League campaign at home to Bruff at Dubarry Park, Athlone, on Saturday, 26 September 2026. The fixture is round one of the newly formed Division 2B South, a regional restructuring introduced for this season to cut down on travel and overnight stays for clubs across the division. Buccaneers are one of Connacht’s leading club sides and a regular fixture in the All-Ireland League, so a home opener at Dubarry Park is one of the bigger dates on the Athlone sporting calendar as the new season gets under way.
Division 2B fixtures kick off at the standard AIL time of 2:30pm on Saturday afternoons, and Dubarry Park’s clubhouse and grounds give a proper home advantage with terracing close to the pitch and a bar open before and after the match. The All-Ireland League is Ireland’s premier club rugby competition below the professional provinces, so the standard of play is well above junior or social rugby, with players who train several nights a week and many with underage interprovincial or academy experience. A first home game of the season typically draws a strong Buccaneers crowd, keen to see how a reshaped division plays out after the league’s restructuring. Expect a competitive, physical opening exchange between two sides looking to start their campaign with a win, followed by a social afternoon in the clubhouse regardless of the result.
Dubarry Park is in the Clonbrusk area of Athlone, close to the town centre and the River Shannon, with parking available around the grounds. Athlone railway station has Intercity services from Dublin Heuston and Galway, and Bus Éireann routes serve the town centre, from where the ground is a short walk or taxi ride.
Athlone sits on the River Shannon at the gateway to Lough Ree, with Athlone Castle and the town’s riverside restaurants and pubs all close to Dubarry Park for a pre-match bite or a post-match drink. There is more to see in Athlone and across Co. Westmeath.
Heading to Dubarry Park in Athlone? Westmeath has plenty more to see. Read the Athlone area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.
In town for Dubarry Park? These Dublin tours book out in summer.