Ards Youth rugby has been part of the history of Ards rugby periodically since the mid 1970s. However, a sustained and progressive approach throughout all the various age groups started in 1995 when Duncan Wallace and Lindsey Stead met with former Youth mentor David Coffey for an informal chat on the feasibility of forming an Under 14 team the following season.

The first training session attracted 7 players in August 1995. However, through word of mouth, the squad soon increased to 22 players. The first game was played on Wednesday 4th September away to Dromore where a youthful Stewart Paul, led his side to a 15 points to 5 victory.

Since its inception the Youth section has gone from Strength to strength winning numerous competitions, cups and leagues at home and abroad at Under 14, 16, 18 and 20 levels, most notably under the stewardship of Roy Lawton, whose teams have enjoyed the most success at the different age groups throughout this time.

Ards Youth have produced a fist full of bright young talent who have represented Ulster and Ireland at either club or schools level. Players such as Colin Thompson, Shane Barr, Mark Wallace, Chris Jordan, James Kirkpatrick, Mark Banford, Chris Agnew, Simon Bailie, Scott Millar, Adam Nelson, Aaron Burns, Palmer Eccles, James McCavery, Conor Piper, Michael Bittles, Michael Lawton, Kenny McCombe, Taylor Ferguson and Curtis Stewart, have all been privileged enough to represent their club or school at the higher level. The Youth have also flown the flag for Ards on tours to England, Scotland, Ireland, Italy, Holland and France with more tours planned in the years ahead.

In 2009 the age groups changed to Under 13, 15, 17 and 19 levels with the Under 17s currently enjoying pole position as they sit on top of their league. Many former Youth players now turn out for the various adult sides at the club including Andrew Crozier, Darren Herron, Mark Banford, Jay McKenzie, Connor McCullough, Adam McKee, Andrew Foster, Matthew Weir, Michael Lawton, Trevor Devlin, Johnny Garrett, Peter Croan, Taylor Ferguson, Clarke Barnes, Michael Taylor, Oran Kisby, Michael McMenamin, Paul Cox, Stephen McKee, Rodger Scott, Alan Crawford and the list goes on.

The Youth has had a wide and varied number of coaches down the years along with the co-ordinators including Lindsey Stead, Derry Gilliland, Alan McKee, George Millar, Stephen Eachus, Gareth Duncan, Colin McLean, Peter Scollick and Colin Anderson to name but a few.

Past youth co-ordinators include Duncan Wallace, Roy Lawton and Brian Faloon. Dayle Jones is the current Youth co-ordinator and everyone hopes the Youth section will continue to be a strong young force to be reckoned with in the years ahead.

Ards Minis

As with the Youth section, the Minis have been part of the Ards landscape for many years. But it wasn’t until September 1995, when it first became formerly structured, did it become the smooth purring machine it is today. A meeting held at Hamilton Park in April 1995 between Roy Lawton, Darryl Callaghan (Ulster Branch) and Chris Moore hatched the plan of starting a Mini section at Ards. The proposal was presented to the Executive Committee who, in giving it the required approval, brought about the beginnings of a bright new chapter in the history of Ards RFC.

The first Mini co-ordinator was John Bailie who got the ball rolling before being succeeded by Roy Lawton a few months later. Over the next four years Roy, along with his wife Liz and fellow coach Alan Dawson, drove the project forward and between them laid the foundations for what is still a very successful venture.

As the Mini movement gathered momentum, it wasn't long before Ards Minis had over 100 registered players on their books and were fielding teams at every level from P3 to Year 8 and playing games against mostly local opposition in Bangor, Donaghadee and Holywood.

In April 1998, Ards hosted their first ever Mini tournament known as the North Down Invitation and attracted over 320 players at all levels to the event. This was a mammoth undertaking but the end result was a huge success and an annual Mini tournament has continued at Ards to this day.

By 2000 Ards Minis were well established across the province and were invited to send a P6 team to Ravenhill to play a short game against Ballynahinch during the interval of a game between Ulster and the Rugby Lions from England. Before the Ulster game a young Michael Lawton was chosen as the Ulster team mascot and ran out onto the hallowed turf of Ravenhill with the Ulster captain Paddy Johns. Later that same evening Michael appeared on the UTV Kelly Show along with Paddy and a young girl from Ballynahinch to help promote Mini rugby across Ulster. In the same year the Minis were invited to Lansdowne Road Dublin to take part in the IRFU centenary celebrations and in 2001 they were back in Dublin at Blackrock College as part of the UTV internet Blitz.

The Mini section has continued to grow in popularity over the years and provides a safe disciplined sporting environment for both boys and girls to participate in. They have toured Ireland, England and France and look set to get another tour up and running soon. Former Minis of note who are still playing in the various adult sides include Stewart Paul, Johnny Dawson, Adam McKee, Michael Lawton, Michael McMenamin, Andrew Foster, Johnny Garrett, Matthew Weir, Trevor Devlin, Taylor Ferguson and Clark Barnes.

Many parents and friends have given up their time to coach Mini rugby at Ards along with the various co-ordinators, including Ian Wallace, George Millar, Alan McKee, Graham Haslett, David Savage, Stewart Fergusson, Stevie Gardiner, Walter Lamb, Joe Kelly, Stevie Nutt, Louise and Malcolm Wallace, Derek Wright and a host of others too many to mention but whose dedication was invaluable to the success of the Mini section.

Past Mini co-ordinators include John Bailie, Roy Lawton, Brian Faloon, Wes Campbell, and Don and Thelma Morrow and Ian Caughey. Will Hoey is the current Mini co-ordinator and everyone hopes this section under his guidance will continue to be steered for many more years to come.