Wanderers F.C. (rugby Union)

Wanderers F.C. (rugby Union)

Wanderers Football Club is a Senior rugby union club based in Dublin, Ireland. They currently play in the Leinster League Division One. It is one of the oldest rugby clubs in Ireland, however its exact date of foundation is open to question. In 1860 a team by the name of Wanderers played against Dublin University. However the current team gives its foundation date as 1870. While the link between the two teams is unclear, they both seem to have been founded by former Dublin University players. In 1879 Wanderers were among the founding members of the Irish Rugby Football Union. They have also regularly provided international players for Ireland, including five captains. In 1959, Ronnie Dawson also went onto captain the British Lions. They have also provided one captain each for both England and Australia.

Since 1880 Wanderers have shared Lansdowne Road with Lansdowne Football Club, with each club having their own clubhouse at opposite ends of the ground. However since 1974 the ground itself has been owned by the IRFU. Between 2005 and 2007, Wanderers and the IRFU were involved in a dispute over the redevelopment of the ground. Wanderers were demanding compensation while Lansdowne Road was unavailable and for their clubhouse being knocked down. The case eventually had to be resolved by the High Court. The settlement saw Wanderers gaining a corporate box and a new clubhouse.