After a couple of abortive attempts, New Ross RFC was founded in 1936 by the late Paddy Fleming who rounded up players,helped coach them, arranged fixtures and transport, obtained pitches and looked after the numerous duties involved in running a club.

As only 4 or 5 of the original players had ever seen a rugby match, it took a while before the club found its feet, but by degrees they became a force to be reckoned with. In 1939, the Club recieved a boost when a battalion of the Irish Army was stationed in New Ross and supplied many fine players to the local Club, with the end of WW2, and the withdrawal of the Army from New Ross, the Club declined.