'Our Journey'

Niall Woods has over 30 years of entirely unique experience in World Rugby, guaranteeing trusted expertise for our clients and partners – 10 years as a player both amateur and professional, 10 years representing players collectively at Rugby Players Ireland (RPI, formerly IRUPA) and Rugby Players Association (RPA), and over 10 years representing players individually.

In 2001 Niall was forced to retire prematurely from professional rugby due to injury, highlighting to him the precarious nature of professional sport. He then started representing players for the RPA in London before securing historic part-funding from the IRFU to start RPI in 2003. He left RPI in 2011 and started Navy Blue Sports which he has driven to become Ireland’s leading full service sports agency representing an enviable list of Ireland’s top sporting talent.

2011

Major sponsorship consultancy accounts won with Rabobank and Volkswagen.

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2013

Under Armour's first individual ambassador role in ireland secured for Jordi Murphy.

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2014

Ireland Rugby Captain Fiona Coghlan signs as our first female athlete.

2016

Navy Blue Sports negotiates Fiona Coghlan to be the first woman to commentate on men’s rugby in Ireland for RTÉ Sport.

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2017

NBS launches Women’s division, headed up by sporting legend Fiona Coghlan. Clients include World Rugby Referee of the Year Joy Neville and Mayo Footballer Sarah Rowe.








2020

Despite Covid19 NBS drives forward and creates a dedicated sponsorship division headed up by sports sponsorship expert Mallorie Ronan.

2021

Navy Blue Sports celebrates 10 years in business and continues to secure premium sports talent including Jamie Heaslip, Linda Djougang, Ross Byrne and Harry Byrne.

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2022

NBS welcomed Ladies Footballer of the Year 2021 Vikki Wall, Munster Rugby's Patrick Campbell and Cricket Ireland Women's Captain, Laura Delany as clients.

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2023

Client side Ireland out half Jack Crowley came to NBS for representation as did two current World Champion’s, boxer Amy Broadhurst & Paralympian rower Katie O’Brien copper fastening NBS as the leader in women in sport representation.



2024


Talent side, Ireland’s Women’s XV Player of the Year Aoife Wafer came on board as did former Olympian & RTE pundit David Gillick.

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January 2011

Navy Blue Sports is born. Jordi Murphy & James Coughlan are first clients to sign with the agency.

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2012

Leading voices of Irish sport sign up with Navy Blue Sports - commentator Dave McIntyre, RTÉ Sport’s Darragh Maloney, followed by leading football pundit Richie Sadlier.

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2013

Double Paralympian gold medallist at London 2012, Mark Rohan joins Navy Blue Sports.

2016

Garry Ringrose becomes only the second pro rugby player to be sponsored by Nike in Ireland.

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2017

Agency growth continues with the addition of the NBS Communications and Events division headed up by PR specialist Gemma Kenny.

2018

The agency enjoys continued commercial growth. Deals done with Aer Cap, DHL, Goodbody, Liberty Insurance, PWC and Sky Sports.

Navy Blue Events AL Goodbody Irelands leading sports events company

2019

Major book deal secured for Richie Sadlier. His autobiography goes on to win Sports Book of the Year.


2021

Geordan Murphy comes on board as a client while NBS also secures James Coughlan to Toulon as Defence Coach and Kieran Campbell to Ealing Trailfinders as Backs Coach.




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2023

Team NBS continued to expand with Gemma Kenny taking on the role of Head of Operations, former clients Jordi Murphy and Ronan O’Mahony starting as Rugby Agents as well as Robert White coming in to the Sponsorship role.

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2024

NBS expanded to become Ireland's only full-service sports management agency, following the establishment of our Communications wing, led by Neal Cummins

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