Welcome to the first edition of Inside Suttonians, a new series sharing the stories, people and initiatives that make Suttonians RFC more than just what happens on matchday.

From our Minis and Youths to community projects, volunteers and everything happening around Station Road, Inside Suttonians will give members a closer look at life across the club.

It was brilliant to welcome our Girls Minis and Youth teams back to Station Road last weekend as another season of rugby got underway.

To make the return extra special, our U12 Girls squad welcomed Leinster Irish international Ailsa Hughes as a guest coach for their session.

A scrum-half with Railway Union RFC, Ailsa has represented Leinster on 29 occasions and earned 19 caps for Ireland. Having someone who has competed at the highest level of the women's game working directly with our young players was a fantastic experience.

Beyond helping the girls develop their skills, having Ailsa at Station Road gave them the opportunity to learn from someone who has followed the pathway they are now beginning themselves — and to see first-hand what is possible for young girls coming through rugby in Ireland.

A huge thank you to Ailsa for giving her time, sharing her experience and helping us make the start of the new season a memorable one for our U12s.

We're looking forward to seeing all of our Girls Minis and Youth teams continue to develop, enjoy their rugby and represent Suttonians throughout the season.

Our work off the pitch is just as important to the club.

Over the past number of months, Suttonians RFC has been working closely with the Howth-Sutton Autism Friendly Community, strengthening our involvement in an initiative that is making our local community more inclusive and accessible.

Club President Gerry Ussher and Deputy President Emer Litchfield recently represented Suttonians in supporting the Howth-Sutton Autism Friendly Community during the IPB Pride of Place judging at Howth Yacht Club.

Suttonians was awarded Autism-Friendly Champion status in 2025, and our continued involvement is part of a much bigger commitment from the club.

We are now working towards the launch of SRFC Autism Champions — a new neurodivergent, mixed-gender Touch Rugby programme at Suttonians.

The programme is planned to begin in October and will create an inclusive environment where participants can enjoy rugby, develop skills, get active and become part of the Suttonians community.

To make it happen, we need volunteers.

In the coming weeks, we'll be looking for volunteer coaches to help support the programme and its members. No previous coaching experience is required, and training will be provided to those who get involved.

Whether you're an experienced coach, a player, a parent or simply someone who would like to contribute to a worthwhile initiative at the club, we'd love to hear from you.

Anyone interested in getting involved with SRFC Autism Champions can get in touch with the club for more information.

Inside Suttonians will return with more stories from across Station Road as we shine a light on the people, teams and initiatives that make our club what it is.