Three Clubs, One Goal: Fitzpatrick’s Opel Naas Supports Grassroots Rugby

Fitzpatrick’s Opel Naas, Main Opel Dealer and supporter of Irish rugby, recently demonstrated its commitment to the local rugby community by donating Opel Gilbert rugby balls to three clubs —Portarlington Rugby Club, Blessington Rugby Club, and Tallaght Rugby Club. As a proud sponsor of Irish Rugby and the official car partner of the IRFU, Opel is dedicated to supporting local clubs by providing essential equipment that can positively impact the rugby community.

Opel’s Drive the Passion initiative aims to reach even more teams in 2025, having already collaborated with dozens of clubs across Ireland since late 2023, with the donation of hundreds of size-4 balls for youth and size-5 balls for adult teams.

Figure 1: Shane Dewar from Fitzpatrick’s Opel Naas presenting Opel Gilbert rugby balls to Alex and Ely Mihajlovic from Portarlington Rugby Club.

Shane Dewar, Sales Manager at Fitzpatrick’s Opel Naas, took great pride in delivering the rugby balls to the clubs. He remarked, “At Fitzpatrick’s Opel Naas, we’re thrilled to support these clubs as they nurture the next generation of rugby talent. We wish all the teams the best of luck for the season ahead.”

Figure 2: Shane Dewar presenting rugby balls to David and Lily from Blessington Rugby Club

Club representatives expressed their gratitude for the generous donations. Lauren Richardson from Blessington Rugby Club said, “This contribution means a lot to us. Having high-quality training equipment like Gilbert rugby balls helps our players refine their skills and boost their confidence on the pitch. We’re incredibly thankful to Fitzpatrick’s Opel Naas and Opel Ireland for their continued support.”

Figure 3: Shane Dewar presenting rugby balls to Tony, Caolin, and Gráinne from Tallaght Rugby Club.

This is not the first time Fitzpatrick’s Opel Naas has contributed to the local rugby scene. In 2024, the dealership supported Naas RFC’s U13 team by donating a set of high-quality Gilbert rugby balls, further demonstrating their dedication to youth rugby. Fitzpatrick’s Opel Naas remains steadfast in their support for grassroots rugby through initiatives like the Drive the Passion programme.

Clubs interested in applying for rugby ball donations can contact the programme via email at marketing@opel.ie.