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Exclusive: Women’s rugby “the next big thing” in sport

click here — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 14:15:00 +0000

A meeting of The Rugby Business Network took place last night in Lansdowne RFC. The aim of the meeting was to bring business professionals together – through the medium of rugby, you might say.

Organised by Philip Mullins and Trevor Keane, and hosted by rugby greats Shane Byrne and Jim Glennon – with a surprise appearance from Joe Schmidt, Head Coach with Leinster – the night included a discussion of women’s rugby and the opportunities for the sport.

Image: The Rugby Business Network

Currently without a sponsor for either the 15-a-side squad (which will next line out in the Six Nations) or for the 7-a-side squad (which will compete at the Sevens Rugby World Cup in Moscow next year in what will be the first stop on the road to Rio 2016), the subject of women’s rugby generated a lot of discussion – and huge support.

Starting the conversation, and given the exciting summer of sport that has been, one of the questions asked during the evening was: What is the next big thing in sport?

In Jim Glennon’s view it’s women’s sevens rugby:

It mightn’t be the biggest thing [at the moment], but watch it over the next four years. The IRFU are throwing their full weight behind women’s sevens for Rio 2016, and it will be well worth watching.

One of the event sponsors, Rob Hartnett of SportforBusiness, who recently organised a discussion on women’s sport in Ireland, had this to say:

Women’s rugby is a sport which is completely taking off. [Sevens rugby] only got into the Olympics because the IOC said, “Yes you can have the men in there, but everything has to be parity, so we have to have women.”

And the Irish women’s team could yet become the first women’s team to actually qualify for an Olympics. Can you imagine that?

Hartnett added an anecdote to starkly highlight an issue that is at once a challenge and an opportunity for women’s rugby:

And yet, think back to the launch of the RBS Six Nations this year. Fiona Coghlan was pictured alongside Paul O’Connell either side of the Six Nations trophy.

Paul O’Connell had a huge, big “O2″ on his jersey. Fiona was the only one of the Six Nations captains to actually walk through in the photocall without a sponsor on the jersey.

He added:

We’ve seen how everything in the Olympics was so brilliant. Everything in the Olympics is about parity. So, women’s sport is the future.

Ireland v Italy (24 Feb 2012). Image: © Joan O’Connell

Later during Q&A, I asked Shane Byrne, from his experience going from amateur to professional rugby, whether he thinks there are any parallels to be seen in the development of the women’s game or any lessons to be learned from that?

Byrne responded by saying that Ireland’s women can take the same strides as the men in rugby: “Absolutely”.

The women’s game is very much an attitude-based thing. The attitudes the women have are exactly on par with the Brian O’Driscolls, with the Gordon D’Arcys, with the Paul O’Connells. With the women, the passion is there. They want to improve just as much.

He added:

The game complements their physicality, the levels that they’re at, and it’s developing at an equal rate, but [it's] different to the men’s game. There’s much more concentration on skills. And to me that’s what it’s all about.

Jim Glennon developed the point, sharing his views on the women’s game:

The reason why I think it has such potential for 2016 is that, first of all, it will be the first time that there has ever been a women’s sevens competition in the Olympics. And, for that reason, most of the big Olympic powers that we tend to think of haven’t got ’round to it yet. So it’s a relatively open playing field.

It will also attract a number of elite athletes from other Irish sports – I’m thinking particularly of sprinters who mightn’t just make the athletics side, but who may well have played Gaelic football or camogie in their youth, and would find the hand-eye co-ordination and ball-carrying relatively easy.

Glennon continued:

For sevens, you probably need a squad of about 14 or 15 [players]. It’s very manageable for smaller countries. And particularly for one of the traditional powers of the game. I just think it’s there to be captured.

Regardless of sponsorship, I think you’re going to have a very exciting few years watching how it goes from zero to, I would think, top ten at the Olympics in Rio is relatively easily done. And with a bit of luck and injury-free, you could even be talking podium.

So, the sporting talent is there, the support within rugby is there. Discussion is one thing, however; what companies and broadcasters will put their money where their mouth is and invest in the women’s game?

Former Welsh rugby international, Melita Williams, joked that as a Welsh blow-in she may have reason to be glad that the Ireland squad has no sponsor. She pointed out, however, that this was a business networking event and, to applause from the room, asked:

What are you all going to do about it?!

So – RTÉ, companies, venues – it’s over to you. There are just seven months until the World Cup. Let’s get this on TV screens, let’s get money, resources and support into the game. The countdown to Rio has begun!

Ireland v Scotland (9 Mar 2012). Image: © Joan O’Connell

Shane Byrne is currently Director of Arklow Waste Disposal
Jim Glennon is currently a Public Affairs Consultant with Edelman
Joe Schmidt is Head Coach with Leinster Rugby
Melita Williams is Director of Bespoke Belfast
Rob Hartnett is Director of SportforBusiness.com

Key dates coming up in the rugby calendar:

- 2013: Sevens World Cup, Moscow
- 2013: Six Nations
- 2014: Rugby World Cup, France
- 2016: Rio Olympics

The Rugby Business Network:

web / linkedin / twitter

Spotlight on women’s rugby at major event in Dublin tomorrow

click here — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 11:30:00 +0000

Former Leinster, Ireland & Lions rugby player, Shane Byrne, will join rugby legend Jim Glennon tomorrow night in Dublin to host a Rugby Business Network (RBN) event to discuss opportunities for the sport and businesses.

The evening will include the topic of women’s rugby and how women’s rugby influences business.

Former Welsh International, Melita Williams, is travelling to the event from Belfast where she currently works as Director of Bespoke Belfast. During the evening, Williams will discuss how the game had an effect on her professional career.

Readers of Gaelick may recall earlier in the year that Shane Byrne was vocal in his support of Ireland’s women in the latest Six Nations, when news emerged of difficulties in travelling to the squad’s away fixture against France. It’s fantastic to see his continued support, and that of the RBN, for the women’s game.

With an impressive Six Nations 2012 campaign for Ireland, and recent qualification for the Seven’s World Cup in Moscow next year, now is an ideal time to debate the next steps for the women’s game.

So, what are the potential commercial opportunities or challenges for women’s rugby? And are there opportunities for the women’s game to go professional? If there are, should it?

How can terrestrial broadcasters such as RTÉ, BBC, Setanta Ireland be convinced that women’s rugby should receive comparable coverage to that given to the men’s game, be it at international or club level?

During the World Cup 2010 in England, Sky Sports broadcast each of the England fixtures, earning impressive viewing figures. This was echoed during this year’s Six Nations, when the IRFU streamed the Ireland v Scotland fixture live online, and it became the IRFU’s most watched live stream.

England flanker, Ambassador for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, and all-round rugby legend, Maggie Alphonsi MBE was a guest speaker at the RBN’s London event recently, fresh from her royal honours.

Speaking earlier in the year, she said of her hopes for the sport:

I’d like rugby to be seen as a genderless sport, for the women’s game to be treated the same as the men’s. It should be appreciated for the athletes and people involved.

Alphonsi has also shared her views on professionalism and the women’s game:

The game is becoming more and more professional and the athletes within the women’s game are being presented with different challenges. Who would have thought five years ago that women would be playing on the greatest of stages around the world and people would be taking notice and more female rugby players being recognised and rewarded for their efforts?

With professionalism comes more commitment though and with more commitment there is less flexibility and ones choices become limited. The challenges that now face women rugby players are when do they start planning for their careers? Do they start planning early into their sporting career or do they leave it until they have finished their sporting career and retirement is upon them?

The night’s sponsors are SportforBusiness.com and Teamer.net. SportforBusiness.com recently hosted a round table meeting to discuss women in sport in Ireland, and the possibilities for generating greater commercial support and awareness.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow night’s event, Shane Byrne said:

The Rugby Business Network is a great event for interaction and knowledge sharing with business professionals on all levels to take the rugby teamwork ethos and club camaraderie into a corporate setting.

The RBN is a not for profit venture hosted on business networking online platform Linked In. The Network aims to connect business people with a passion for rugby and aims to become the world’s number one facilitator of business networking. Members of the RBN host networking events all over the world which are free to attend.

Due to the popular demand for the event and tickets being sold out, the RBN hopes to provide another chance for new members to utilise the Network and attend a further Dublin event.

The Network is not just about the game or a career within the game off the field, but is for any professional on any landscape who enjoys rugby.

Key dates coming up in the rugby calendar:

- 2013: Sevens World Cup, Moscow
- 2013: Six Nations
- 2014: Rugby World Cup, France
- 2016: Rio Olympics

The Rugby Business Network:

web / linkedin / twitter

Rugby: Irish players are back, this time with a new format

click here — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:53:42 +0000

There’s been non-stop rugby news for the past number of weeks.

Since the out-of-the-blue announcement by the IRFU that Ireland will field a women’s sevens side, it has been all go for the players in training camps and tournaments – and the pace will continue through the summer. And in the space of just two days, the IRFU has spoiled us with no less than five videos to tell us all about what we can expect over the coming months – and hopefully years.

Tomorrow in Amsterdam, Ireland faces Canada, Spain and France in the Amsterdam Sevens tournament. This follows their recent win at the Kinsale Sevens competition.

After you’ve recovered from the excitement of watching Katie Taylor in the World Boxing Championships final (come on, Katie!), you can sit down to watch the live stream of Ireland’s rugby side take to the field. (Come on, Irish Lightning!) You can also follow the action on Twitter, using the #amsterdamsevens hashtag.

According to Scrumhalf Connection in the States, Ireland is in Pool B, and their fixtures tomorrow are as follows:

1:20pm Canada v Ireland
3:20pm Spain v Ireland
6:10pm France v Ireland

How they perform in the Saturday will determine their games and position on Sunday.

A note about 7s rugby

Unlike the 15-a-side rugby squads we may be familiar with from the likes of the Six Nations championship, the 7-a-side format of rugby is a faster game, and requires more fitness, skill and ball-handling ability. The games are also starkly different from the 80 minute slog endured by the 15s squads. Instead, the 7s teams play short games of two halves of seven minutes with a half-time break of one minute, and can be expected to play several games in one day.

Followers of the 15s squad who lined out for the recent Six Nations will notice a healthy mix of some experienced and new faces among the team named by coach John Skurr for this weekend’s games:

Ashleigh Baxter
Lynne Cantwell
Nikki Caughey
Amy Davis
Jeannette Feighery
Shannon Houston
Ashling Hutchings
Claire Keohane
Alison Miller
Claire Molloy
Joy Neville
Laura O’Mahony
Sophie Spence

Six Nations: England 26-3 Ireland

click here — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:57:24 +0000

View images from Ireland’s Six Nations fixtures

England v Ireland photos: © Myak Homberger/Papaya Photography.
All other photos © Joan O’Connell.

Saturday, St Patrick’s Day, saw Ireland face England away in their final fixture of the Six Nations Championship. Our man at Esher RFC, Myak Homberger of Papaya Photography, was snapping away on the sidelines, and has kindly shared his images of the game with us.

England were always the favourites, going into the game undefeated, and having conceded only 6 points and not a single try. Still, though, the final score flattered England somewhat, as Ireland fought hugely.

Before the half-time break, both teams were level at six points each, with two penalty kicks per team slotted between the posts. It was only in the last 20 minutes or so that Ireland’s form was undone, and England managed to earn two tries and conversions to secure their historic win – Triple Crown, Grand Slam and the Championship.

Ireland can be proud: of their performance on Saturday, and throughout the tournament.

The team has been disciplined, clinical and determined. They have maintained an expansive style of play, conceding very few points – six to the dominant England, and eight to France after That Infamous Journey. Several new caps joined the team and integrated with the greatest of ease, and making a significant impact and contribution: Ashleigh Baxter, Sophie Spence, Paula Fitzpatrick, Ruth O’Reilly, Siobhán Fleming, Nikki Caughey.

View a slideshow of images from Saturday’s game.
Photos: © Myak Homberger/Papaya Photography

Head coach Philip Doyle said:

We have brought in a lot of new caps that have done very well. Ashleigh Baxter was playing Division Two rugby back at Christmas and has been great at fullback this season and Jennifer Murphy is a fantastic talent for the future.

Captain Fiona Coghlan said:

The scoreline flattered them [England], but they were more physical than us and were able to bring on a strong replacements in the front-row. I’m happy with how we’ve looked to play all season and we’ve brought in a lot of new caps that have grown in confidence as the season progressed.

The next time we see Ireland play will be the Six Nations 2013, unless there are any plans by the IRFU to arrange further international fixtures. Here’s hoping!

More:

Images:

Match reports:

Six Nations: Bourke returns for Ireland’s Triple Crown bid

click here — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:00:37 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w72eOkj_XYI

Check that AC/DC.

This St Patrick’s Day, the Six Nations Triple Crown is up for grabs for Ireland for very the first time; if Ireland is victorious, and by a margin of 24 points or more, they could win the Six Nations Championship itself. Meanwhile, an unbeaten England will be clamouring for both the Triple Crown and the Grand Slam title.

The game against England will be streamed online by the RFU, and if you’re in Dublin 4 on Paddy’s Day, Kiely’s pub will be showing it on the big screen (roysh). Kick-off is at 2pm.

You can show your support to the team by following the gaggle of players who have recently joined Twitter (see the squad list, below) – and by following the #wrugby and #EngIrl hashtags.

Head coach, Philip Doyle, has reverted to form and brought back Gillian Bourke to the starting XV’s front row between Ailis Egan and captain, Fiona Coghlan, returning Paula Fitzpatrick to the Replacements.

As ever, England have been dominant in this year’s Championship, and they are the favourites on Saturday. Watch out for skipper and fly-half Katie McLean, and for scrum-half and former-winger Natasha Hunt, according to ScrumQueens.

Yet Ireland have conceded a mere ten points throughout the entire tournament, and lost only one game by a single point (after that now infamous débacle that was their journey to France). The side has also broken several records: the squad’s most-capped-ever player, Lynne Cantwell, has added a further five caps to the tally; the team has amassed the greatest ever number of points and tries in a tournament, among them the record-breaking win against Wales; in three home games, the team has scored 24 tries; right now, Ireland may be on the best points difference they’ve achieved in the Six Nations; the side is also currently second on the Championship table, another first for Ireland.

Following the stuttering start and That Trip To France, Ireland have been determined and clinical. They have consistently learned from their mistakes, and have been increasingly cohesive as a team. That’s no mean feat for a side with a raft of fresh faces and which has effectively had to learn to work together on-the-trot, given that the Six Nations fixtures have been Ireland’s only international test matches since the last Championship over twelve months ago.

So, let’s be optimistic: Ireland’s form against England in the Six Nations hasn’t covered the team in glory, but if Ireland can maintain their stamina, cohesion, mental discipline and clinical execution, they could cause an upset for the home side.

View a images from all of Ireland’s home games
in the Six Nations 2012 Championship.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s game, Doyle said:

We have been very lucky in this tournament, we haven’t had to make too many changes and the depth in the squad is very strong.

We are very realistic in our outlook and firmly believe we have closed the gap to put in a significant challenge on Saturday.

And skipper, Coghlan, called on her troops to continue their free-scoring ways:

The season has gone really well, we’re a little disappointed with the performance against Scotland but in fairness to them they put everything into it and they made our life hell at times.

To come away with a 20-0 win at the end of the day is a real positive and now we’re looking forward to the England game.

This is probably the most tries we have ever scored and currently we are on the best points difference we have ever been on.

The way we are trying to play is a heads up kind of rugby, we see what’s in front of us and people play in any position moving the ball around and it seems to be working for us.

We need to bring that against England next weekend which we know will be an enormous task.

Our fans have been great and hopefully a few of them will make the trip over to England next week when we go for the Triple Crown.

So watch out, England!

P.S. Now might be a good time to remind readers that the petition to the IRFU is still going (currently at 1247 signatures), and will be handed to the organisation at the end of the month.

It’s probably fair to say that the squad has by now earned the respect they deserve.

For now, though, some more visual goodies:

Philip Doyle speaks following Ireland’s recent win over Scotland.

Ireland captain Fiona Coghlan discusses the team’s latest victory,
and looks ahead to the game against England.

Lynne Cantwell discusses the team’s performance so far as well as
their determination to win the final Six Nations fixture on St Patrick’s Day against England.

(More images: Inpho.ie / Demotix / Scotland RFU)

And here’s footage from some of Ireland’s previous meetings in Six Nations 2012:

France v Ireland by FFR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqogLGndAas

Ireland v Italy

(More images: Inpho.ie / Demotix)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-cW_bH3XfA

Ireland v Wales

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf2xa7IwW4U

Ireland v Wales

(More images: Inpho.ie / Sportsfile / Demotix)

Ireland starting XV and replacements v England:

15. Ashleigh Baxter
14. Niamh Kavanagh
13. Niamh Briggs
12. Grace Davitt
11. Alison Miller
10. Lynne Cantwell
9. Amy Davis
1. Fiona Coghlan (capt)
2. Gillian Bourke
3. Ailis Egan
4. Marie Louise Reilly
5. Sophie Spence
6. Laura Guest
7. Claire Molloy
8. Joy Neville

Replacements:

16. Paula Fitzpatrick
17. Ruth O’Reilly
18. Siobhan Fleming
19. Heather O’Brien
20. Larissa Muldoon
21. Shannon Houston
22. Jennifer Murphy

Ireland 2012 Six Nations fixtures:

† Ireland’s game against England will be streamed live online by the RFU.

Six Nations Table as it stands:

Six Nations: Ireland 20-0 Scotland

click here — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 12:16:43 +0000

Last night saw Ireland’s final Six Nations home game, and their penultimate fixture of the Championship overall.

We brought you live tweets from the game as it happened (until our phone conked out late in the second half. Again).

Scotland were going to be a tough side to face, a fact not reflected by the visiting side’s scoring or position on the tournament’s table. Nevertheless, Ireland secured their third consecutive victory in the Six Nations, and second sucessive win without conceding a point.

Next up, Ireland face England away, with both teams vying for the Triple Crown.

Let me make myself crystal clear here:

That’s Ireland v England. In the Six Nations. On Paddy’s Day. For the Triple Crown.

As with last night’s fixture the game will be live streamed by the host union. Get the popcorn ready.

View a slideshow of images from last night’s game.

The Ireland Women took their try-scoring tally to 19 in four Six Nations games as they accounted for Scotland at Ashbourne RFC. Alison Miller touched down in the closing stages, adding to first half tries from Sophie Spence and Ashleigh Baxter.

The wind-backed Scots were 12-0 behind at the break, with Niamh Briggs converting Spence’s close range score.

Winger Miller raced over in the left corner for her try, following Marie Louise Reilly’s block of an attempted Scottish clearance.

Paula Fitzpatrick, making her first Championship start, was right on the money with her first lineout throw and Ireland were quickly up to speed in attack.

A strong run from Niamh Kavanagh created space and with Scotland brought in close to their posts, lock Spence sprung over from close range for the opening try.

Briggs tagged on the conversion, and then combined well with her centre partner Grace Davitt as Ireland remained on the front foot.

The elusive Miller was denied by a forward pass as she sprinted up the right wing, with the Scots, winless in this campaign, struggling to get out of their own half.

Ireland almost added a second try with a powerful weaving run from Briggs, who was hauled down just short of the line. Louise Dalgliesh came in at the side of a ruck, but Briggs snatched at the resulting penalty and missed it.

Scotland hit back strongly and turned down a kickable penalty before Briggs produced a vital tackle on the advancing Stephanie Johnston, in front of the posts.

A strong scrum from the hosts earned a relieving penalty and out-half Lynne Cantwell then had to react smartly to close down Katy Green as she threatened out wide on the right.

But Ireland were much more clinical when attacking opportunities presented themselves at the other end. Slick passing across the back-line set up full-back Baxter for her second try in as many games.

Briggs’ conversion attempt from a tough position on the right fell short and with neither side impressing before the interval, Ireland took a 12-point lead into the second period.

Tricky centre Davitt was brought down just short of the Scottish line as Ireland threatened immediately on the resumption. The attack was set up by a strong charge on the right from prop Ailis Egan.

Briggs landed a subsequent penalty for a 15-0 scoreline and lively winger Kavanagh, already with three tries to her name in recent weeks, was left frustrated by two near misses.

She was called back for a foot in touch on the right after a brilliant counter attack was sparked by the fleet-footed Miller inside her own half.

Kavanagh was soon denied again in the same corner, this time by a forward pass. By that stage, Shannon Houston had made a welcome return to the Irish midfield.

Nonetheless, with Scotland lacking the firepower to get off the mark, this superior Ireland outfit fittingly had the final say with Miller’s 73rd-minute try.

Towering lock Reilly got her block in and Irish captain Fiona Coghlan reacted quickly to spot numbers on the left and start a string of passes which led to the winger dotting down.

Standout players included:

Try scorers, Sophie Spence, Ashleigh Baxter, Alison Miller; Niamh Briggs with excellent kicking; Niamh Kavanagh, Ashleigh Baxter and Claire Molloy who, like Miller, again made brilliant runs; playmaker Lynne Cantwell; Maz Reilly with important blocks; el capitan, Fiona Coghlan.

More:

Six Nations: Stop press! Doyle makes a change

click here — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 08:00:38 +0000

As Sam Cooke http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbO2_077ixs

it, “It’s been a long, a long time coming, But I know a change gonna come.”

And finally, that moment has arrived. Ireland coach, Philip Doyle, has made one change to the starting line-up for this Friday’s fixture against Scotland. Leinster’s Paula Fitzpatrick makes her first start of the Six Nations Championship in the front row between captain Fiona Coghlan and Ailis Egan, in place of Gillian Bourke.

The experienced Shannon Houston has also been recalled to the squad following injury as one of the reserve backs, at the expense of Ulster’s Nikki Caughey.

Ahead of the team’s last home game, Ireland are currently third in the Six Nations table following a narrow loss to France, and demolition of the Italians and Welsh. According to ScrumQueens, a key player for Scotland will be skipper Susie Brown, and the one to watch is flying winger Sarah Dixon.

Ireland Women’s head coach Philip Doyle said:

The win over Wales was fantastic and we enjoyed it, but next day the focus switched to Scotland.

We have put ourselves in a good position and the girls are playing some great rugby.

This week has been about fine-tuning things and again the commitment in training has been excellent.

A win against Scotland will be important (if not necessary) ahead of what is likely to be a difficult final game of the tournament away to England on St Patrick’s Day. As has already been mentioned, Ireland needs to hold its place in the Six Nations table this year and next to be in with a chance of qualifying for the World Cup in 2014.

View a slideshow of images from last Saturday’s Ireland v Wales replay.

Ireland starting XV and replacements v Scotland

(Ashbourne RFC, Co. Meath on 9th March, KO 7:30pm)

15. Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
14. Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians/Munster)
13. Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster)
12. Grace Davitt (Cooke/Ulster)
11. Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Highfield/Connacht)
10. Lynne Cantwell (Exile)
9. Amy Davis (Blackrock/Leinster)
1. Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster) (capt)
2. Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
3. Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
4. Sophie Spence (Exile)
5. Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
6. Laura Guest (Highfield/Munster)
7. Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht)
8. Joy Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster)

Replacements:

16. Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster)
17. Ruth O’Reilly (Galwegians/Connacht)
18. Siobhan Fleming (Tralee/Munster)
19. Heather O’Brien (Highfield/Munster)
20. Larissa Muldoon (Exile/UWIC/Ulster)
21. Shannon Houston (Blackrock/Leinster)
22. Jennifer Murphy (Exile)

Ireland 2012 Six Nations fixtures:

† Ireland’s game against England will be streamed live online by the RFU.

Six Nations Table as at 6th March 2012:

Six Nations: Ireland 36-0 Wales

click here — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 14:00:48 +0000

Ireland and Wales finally faced off at Ashbourne, and it was worth the wait.

We brought you live tweets from the game as it happened (until our phone conked out late in the second half. Again).

As with the game against Italy, Ireland racked up six tries. Unlike the game against Italy, the opposition failed to make an impact near Ireland’s try line. Ireland’s revenge for last year’s narrow loss was sweet.

This was an important victory for Ireland after a stuttering start to this year’s tournament and an agonising loss to the French in Pau. As Ireland face Scotland on Friday and England on Paddy’s Day, the team may be eyeing the Triple Crown. Certainly, this win helps their cause on the road to the 2014 Rugby World Cup.

View a slideshow of images from yesterday’s game .

Ireland opened the scoring after five minutes when former captain Joy Neville touched the ball down after a driving maul. With the sun in her eyes, however, Briggs’ kick was off target.

Sophie Spence, one of Ireland’s new faces this year, made a fantastic run, fending off attempted tackles, to score her first international try under the posts. Briggs easily converted this time.

Next to be added to the score sheet was on-form Niamh Kavanagh, who made it across the line thanks to a brilliant break by Claire Molloy. Unfortunately the conversion fell just short, and the score at half time was 17-0, with lots of cursing & gnashing of teeth from Welsh huddle.

After the break, Miller made a trademark run to add a further five points and Briggs converted to make it 24-0 to the home side.

Another great run by Molloy brought Ireland right up to the Welsh line. With another great maul, Gillian Bourke crashed over. Briggs was unlucky not to convert when the ball hit the uprights.

Another of the new additions to the team, full-back Ashleigh Baxter rounded off the try-scoring marathon, with Briggs doing the needful to make the final tally 36-0.

A fine performance on the day of Ireland captain Fiona Coghlan’s birthday.

Going into the game Wales were without their captain, Rachel Taylor, who was suspended for four weeks. A Six Nations committee had earlier found that during their game against England at Twickenham last week, Taylor had “committed an act of foul play in contravention of Law 10.4(b) in that she recklessly made contact with her boot to the face of an opposition player”. Taylor will be free to play again from 26th March next.

Standout players included:

Try scorers Joy Neville, Sophie Spence, Niamh Kavanagh, Alison Miller, Gillian Bourke, Ashleigh Baxter; Claire Molloy, influential throughout the game.

More:

Six Nations: If it ain’t broke don’t fix it

click here — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:41:17 +0000

One month on, and Ireland’s replay against Wales finally rolls around, the original game which opened the 2012 Six Nations having been abandoned at half time due to a frozen pitch. (Perhaps we can take it as a good omen that tomorrow’s match takes place on the Ireland captain’s birthday.)

And, sticking with his guns, Ireland coach Philip Doyle has opted for the same starting XV and replacements to face the Welsh.

During those 40 minutes of play last month, both teams appeared fairly evenly matched, but the 10-3 scoreline at half time reflected Ireland’s edge. As Doyle told ScrumQueens, the 40 minutes were a valuable added warm-up for Ireland, too, since the team hasn’t played together prior to this year’s Six Nations since the tournament last year:

In some ways the Wales postponement has probably helped us as it turned out to be an additional 40 minutes of additional rugby under our belt, which isn’t going to be a bad thing.

View a slideshow of images from the abandoned Ireland v Wales game.

In this tournament, Ireland has performed well despite the stuttering start and unfortunate events en route to Pau: the team dominated over Italy in the last game, and came achingly close to a win over France. Tomorrow’s game will be crucial not only in the current competition, but also as part of Ireland’s qualification pathway for the World Cup in 2014.

Wales on the other hand is likely to be eager for a win, especially given the trouncing they received from England last Saturday.

A question mark hangs over the side’s captain, Rachel Taylor, however. Arising out of the fixture in Twickenham, a citing complaint against her was made by the Rugby Football Union for an alleged act of foul play.

The disciplinary hearing for Taylor will be held in Dublin tomorrow, before the game at Ashbourne.

The citing complaint will be heard by an independent Six Nations disciplinary committee. Should the disciplinary committee reject the citing complaint and/or impose no suspension on Ms Taylor, she will be free to play in the rescheduled match between Wales and Ireland tomorrow afternoon. Should the disciplinary committee uphold the citing complaint and impose a suspension, Ms Taylor will not be permitted to play in the match tomorrow.

Whatever the outcome, it’s not the ideal start to the day for the visiting side.

Ireland starting XV and replacements v Italy (RBS 6 Nations)

(Ashbourne RFC, Co. Meath on 2nd March, KO 14:30 GMT)
View a table of the men’s and women’s Ireland starting XVs here.

15. Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins – Ulster)
14. Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians – Munster)
13. Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians – Munster)
12. Grace Davitt (Cooke – Ulster)
11. Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Highfield – Connacht)
10. Lynne Cantwell (Exile)
9. Amy Davis (Blackrock – Leinster)
1. Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians – Leinster) Captain
2. Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians – Munster)
3. Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere – Leinster)
4. Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere – Leinster)
5. Sophie Spence (Exile)
6. Laura Guest (Highfield – Munster)
7. Claire Molloy (Bristol – Exile)
8. Joy Neville (UL Bohemians – Munster)

Replacements:

16. Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s – Leinster)
17. Ruth O’Reilly (Galwegians – Connacht)
18. Siobhan Fleming (Tralee – Munster)
19. Heather O’Brien (Highfield – Munster)
20. Larissa Muldoon (Exile/UWIC – Ulster)
21. Nikki Caughey (Belfast Harlequins – Ulster)
22. Jennifer Murphy (Exile)

Ireland 2012 Six Nations fixtures:

† Ireland’s game against England will be streamed live online by the RFU.

Six Nations Table as at 2nd March 2012:

Six Nations: Ireland 40-10 Italy

click here — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:15:12 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqogLGndAas

Ireland finally got through 80 minutes of play at home, and in the process firmly put behind them the narrow loss away against France and the abandoned Wales home fixture.

We brought you live tweets from the game as it happened. The final scoreline amounted to a resounding victory for Ireland, although in fairness to the Italians, doesn’t reflect the ferocity with which they fought.

Approaching half time, Italy threatened with repeated attacks right up at the Irish try line. Their attacking form continued in the second half, with much of the play taking place deep in the Irish half.

The visitors’ unrelenting efforts were in vain, however, and Ireland who were always the favourites capitalised on every opportunity.

Some poor discipline from Ireland, a reflection perhaps of Italy’s determination, saw yellow cards for Ailis Egan and Claire Molloy either side of half-time.

View a slideshow of images from last night’s game.

Lock Marie Louise Reilly made a break in the fifth minute of play to score the first try of the night. Niamh Kavanagh followed up in the 14th minute to secure Ireland’s second try. In the 29th minute, veteran Joy Neville grabbed the third try after a poor Italian clearance. With all of these tries converted by the unerring Niamh Briggs, the score was 21-0 to Ireland after 30 minutes.

A try from Italy’s Cristina Molic made it 21-7 at half time. Michela Tondinelli’s surprise drop goal closed the gap further 15 minutes after the re-start.

It wasn’t enough for the Italians, however, as Ireland countered Italy’s attacking play.

Echoing her blistering run in the abandoned game against Wales, Alison Miller made a spectacular 50-metre run toward before being tapped and taken down by Italian hooker Sara Zanon just short of the visitors’ try line. Scrum half Amy Davis collected and recovered, however, and secured the try to make it 26-10 in the 62nd minute.

Kavanagh made her presence felt for a second time, with an impressive second try in the 72nd minute, but Briggs miss-kicked and for the first time in the tournament was unable to convert. Just before the final whistle, replacement and one of the new faces on the Ireland squad Jennifer Murphy added the final try in injury-time with a darting run in under the posts against a tiring Italian defence.

Standout players included:

Try scorers, Marie Louise Reilly, who opened the scoring for Ireland, Niamh Kavanagh, with tries plural, Amy Davis, whose reflexes meant her name being added to the score sheet, and Jennifer Murphy, another fresh face who has made their presence immediately felt; Alison Miller, true to form with a fantastic run in the second half; Niamh Briggs, with near-flawless kicking.

More:

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Six Nations: No change again for Ireland

click here — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:45:06 +0000

Philip Doyle has for the third time chosen an unchanged starting XV and replacements to face Italy this Friday night at Ashbourne.

Having made an impact in the abandoned game against Wales, and (despite the débacle of reaching the venue) fighting fiercely in a narrow loss to the French, Doyle has opted for a strong and reliable side once again.

The starting XV includes this tournament’s try-scorers Alison Miller and Claire Molloy, unflappable kicker Niamh Briggs, winger/centre manqué Lynne Cantwell who remains at the fly-half position, and Six Nations débutantes Sophie Spence and Ashleigh Baxter.

As with the men’s visiting side, the Italy women are increasingly a force to be reckoned with.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s game, Doyle said:

Following a very good performance against France in Pau last time out, all girls played extremely well and we did not see the need to make changes.

Italy are a formidable opposition, we are under no illusions about the strength of this side. We have trained well and look forward to playing back in front of a home side

ScrumQueens warns that the one to watch among the opposition is Flavia Severin:

The Treviso lock has a great eye for a try and is a dogged defender. She is consistently a key pack performer for Italy and with 26 caps has the experience needed.

For those with a ticket to the game, a bus has been arranged which will take supporters from Old Belvedere to Ashbourne RFC and back. Details of costs and what’s included in the deal are available here.

Check with Ashbourne RFC to find out whether there are any remaining tickets available to the game. Admission is €20 per car, or €10 per adult and €5 per child.

Whether or not you can make it to any of the fixtures, the Six Nations Fantasy Rugby League continues apace. Check the website for details. Half the proceeds goes to the winner, and half goes to fundraising for St Mary’s Women’s rugby team.

In other news, since last weeks’ petition to the IRFU was set up calling for equal treatment for the Ireland women’s team, the number of signatures is steadily approaching 1,100. Sign and share if you have yet to do so!

Ireland starting XV and replacements v Italy (RBS 6 Nations)

(Ashbourne RFC, Co. Meath on 24th February, KO 19:30 GMT)
View a table of the men’s and women’s Ireland starting XVs here.

Replacements:

Ireland 2012 Six Nations fixtures:

† Ireland’s game against England will be streamed live online by the RFU.

Six Nations Table as at 22 Feb 2012:

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Six Nations: France 8-7 Ireland

click here — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:32:48 +0000

UPDATE (14th Feb at 11:40am)

Gavin Cummiskey in today’s Irish Times reports:

Ireland eventually lost 8-7 in Pau on Saturday afternoon, a remarkable achievement considering it followed the Irish players having had just three hours’ sleep following four hours glued to a bus seat and an overnight train journey.

The IRFU saw the potential for this messy scenario as far back as October when the French Federation announced the venue.

Read on for the fairly shocking account of events as described by head coach, Philip Doyle.

We’re also hearing reports that the team arrived in Pau at 7am, rather than at 3am as originally stated in this article. Neither of the times are as yet confirmed.

END

In what was Ireland’s first full game of the Six Nations tournament this year, the team faced heartbreak losing to France by just one point. (But then, after 27 hours of travelling in planes, trains and automobiles before arriving at your destination at 3am on match day, perhaps that’s not so bad a scoreline.)

In front of a crowd of 9,000 (lets say 8,995 French fans and the remainder Irish) and in freezing conditions, France dominated in the first half and secured a try (missed conversion) and penalty, to make it France 8-0 Ireland at the half time break. The second half, however, saw Ireland make a huge fight back.

Most of the below exclamations came after the 70 minute mark. France had their tighthead prop, Cristelle Chobet, was sin binned at the 68th minute; while Ireland brought on replacements Paula Fitzpatrick, Heather O’Brien and Larissa Muldoon to take over from Ailis Egan (3), Sophie Spence (5) and Ashleigh Baxter (15).

Ireland capitalised, with a try from Galwegian Claire Molloy and a conversion by Niamh Briggs. Sadly it wasn’t enough, and after a final scrum and a massive effort, the full time whistle blew and the score remained France 8-7 Ireland.

This game – the only senior France v Ireland match to take place over the weekend – sounded like an absolute cracker. It was a terrible waste not to have it broadcast in English (whether on radio or TV).

I listened to the game which was broadcast by Sud Radio, live and direct from the Stade du Hameau in the Pyrenees town of Pau.

Well, when I say “listened”, what I mean is that I struggled to re-live my aural exam for the Leaving Cert, attempting to decipher the barrage of southern-accented French and the cross-talk of three over-excited French rugby pundits.

The easiest things to understand were:

“Oh la la!” “Pfffffff!” “Fwsshhhhhh!” “Mon dieu, mon dieu!” “Bonne défence des irlandaise!” “La défence irlandaise, c’est enorme!” “Quelle match!” “Un jeu incroyable!”

The next easiest things to understand (and these actually were difficult enough) were the attempts at pronouncing Irish players’ names.

Briggs (simple enough, you’d think) became “Brrrrreeegs!” Gillian was pronounced with a hard “G”, and Bourke was pronounced “Boooooorrrk-uh!” Amy Davis became “Ah-meeeee Dah-veeeeeece!” And I swear Joy Neville became “Joyeux Noelle”. Caughey sounded like an attack of emphysema. I don’t think there was any attempt to pronounce the captain’s surname, Coghlan.

Still, though, for all the shortcomings of listening to rugby commentary en français, it was the only thing on offer. As the game progressed my ear became more attuned, and I could hear presenter Pierre Guillet repeatedly tell the listeners how this was the only broadcast of the women’s Six Nations game.

Bravo! And at the same time for shame..

After the game, Ireland captain Fiona Coghlan said of the fixture:

We had most of the possession but we fell asleep for 20 minutes and that’s when they capitalised and scored their try. Then it was just too little, too late really.

There was a huge home support but after half-time it was all us. In fairness, credit to France and their defence but it was all us.

We had a few bad decisions and a few unforced errors but hats off to the girls for the way they came back.

We were trying to force a penalty at the end. We thought we had one under the posts but the referee played on. We tried to keep the ball in hand to try and get either a score or a penalty out of it but unfortunately it didn’t go our way.

This morning, Ireland legend Shane Byrne spoke on TV3′s Ireland AM (skip to 5:40) about the pre-game conditions faced by Ireland’s women:

The ladies lost by one point, right down in the south of France. And just to [be] very critical of the IRFU, they had 27 hours travel. They arrived down there [in Pau] at 3 o’clock in the morning [on] the day of the game.

Absolute disgrace.

You know, these are all part – they’re representing the country. They’re putting on the green jersey for us. And they’re amateur, they do it for the joy of it. And to be treated like that, absolutely terrible.

They flew into Paris and got the cattle train down to the south of France, when there was umpteen options to fly down south.

You know, I just think it’s a disgrace, in this day and age. We’ve heard long ago when the women’s game was set together that that’s the way they were treated, but nowadays it shouldn’t happen.

It has to change.

You have to wonder how exactly the IRFU are implementing the IRB’s Women’s Development Plan, as promised.

I hope they écoutez bien.

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Important information regarding France

click here — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:45:31 +0000

Zut alors! It’s all about France v Ireland this weekend in the women’s and men’s rugby.

So, in the spirit of helpfulness and usefulness – and in case you missed our updates on Facebook and Twitter (from your abode under a rock) – here’s all you will need to know if you’re taking the horse to France for the rugby (or at any time really, let’s be honest):

Key French phrases: Part 1 (How to fake French)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edYHlnhxyOI

Où est le centre Georges Pompidou?

Tomorrow’s women’s game against France takes place in Pau. Or as French northerners call it: T’Pau. I think someone should inform Carol Decker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSh6SQd8UrI

Key French phrases: Part 2 (Lessons from Bubble – at the 6 minute mark)

This is the one. No, this, this is the one..

And here’s one possible way to pass the time when you’re not at the game. (Or when you’re at the game, who’s to say?):

Écoutez bien! I weel say zees only wance.

Finally, then, you can put all that you have learned into practice! If you have men’s rugby-overload and you’re dying to find out how Ireland’s women fare when they face off against France, Monsieur Pierre Guillet and amis will be broadcasting live on Sud Radio from Hameau Stadium in Pau.

The game starts at the now earlier time of 2:30pm.

Six Nations: No change for Ireland’s starting XV against France

click here — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:00:40 +0000

UPDATE: 11am

This just in from the RBS 6 Nations: Due to weather conditions in Pau, both teams have agreed to bring forward the women’s Six Nations match between France and Ireland to 3:30pm local time (2:30pm Irish time) on Saturday, 11th February.

/ Update

After a stuttering start to this year’s Six Nations tournament, Ireland head coach, Philip Doyle, has named an unchanged team to face France away from home tomorrow night. You can find out more about the starting XV here and the team’s replacements here.

It remains to be seen when the abandoned game against Wales will be re-scheduled. A meeting was due to have taken place earlier this week; the RBS Six Nations press office announced on Tuesday that the fixture will be replayed at a date to be agreed by both the Irish and Welsh rugby unions. It will be crucial to both teams that the re-play goes ahead, since the outcome of the Six Nations this year and next will decide whether the sides qualify for the World Cup in 2014.

As appears to be the unfortunate practice, tomorrow’s game won’t be broadcast on television or streamed online. Sadly, I won’t be able to wing my way to France to bring you fresh pics and match report. ScrumQueens, however, brings us the news that French radio will be broadcasting the match as it happens. It’ll be just like the War!

(Ah, those were simpler times.. When we all gathered around the wireless, and women were marginalised and silenced. You’d never have the like of it today, would ya?)

Well, it won’t be exactly like the War: you can listen to the radio broadcast online at Sud Radio.

The match will be a tough one, away against a difficult side. Last year, Ireland lost at home to France – but only just: the final scoreline being Ireland 12-14 France. The difference was greater the previous year, with France winning by 19 points to nine. In 2009, however, Ireland slugged it out at home to win with seven points to France’s five.

So the form has been mixed, but Ireland has been making strides and has introduced a number of new players whose young ages and lack of caps belies their experience. The disadvantage may remain the fact that the Ireland team has had very little opportunity to put their training into practice together. Their brief outing at Ashbourne last week, however, was impressive.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s test, Doyle said:

Thankfully after last week’s performance, even if it was only forty minutes long, we are able to name an unchanged XV and bench for this week’s game.

France away is always a hard place to go and get a win but the ladies are in a good space at the moment and will take that into the weekend.

I am in no doubt that the ladies will put in a performance and raise their game in order to get where they want to be.

The tie tomorrow takes place in Pau, near the French Pyrenees. In Ashbourne, Co Meath, last Friday the freezing conditions deteriorated to such an extent that the match was abandoned. Today, Ireland appears to be the warmest place in Europe. Let’s just hope that the Siberian weather across Europe doesn’t cause havoc in the south of France to waylay yet another of Ireland’s fixtures!

Kick-off is at ~~5:30pm~~ 2:30pm Irish time.

The full Six Nations fixture list can be found here.
Meet Ireland’s starting XV here and the team’s replacements here.

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Six Nations: Ireland v Wales (abandoned)

click here — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:06:17 +0000

UPDATE: 6th February 2012 at 10pm

Tonight’s Against the Head has footage of Friday night’s match – skip to the 24 minute mark. (Frustratingly, despite the fact that an RTÉ crew were therefore actually at the game, it was neither broadcast nor streamed online, nor were there any highlights on RTÉ news bulletins, unlike the senior men and under 20s boys teams.)

/ Update

The Six Nations got off to a disappointing start yesterday evening, when the Ireland v Wales match at Ashbourne RFC was abandoned at half time.

We brought you tweets live from the game as it happened. Unfortunately due to the freezing conditions and hardening of the ground, and citing concerns for the health and safety of the players, referee Kevin White made the decision to abandon the game. Indeed, even before game began, the ground was hard and grass crunched underfoot.

Niamh Briggs, who’s kicking was flawless, with one conversion and one penalty, tweeted:

To say we are disappointed is an understatement! We live to fight another day.. We’ll regroup for next match.. Support was unreal

The IRFU has confirmed that the Six Nations committee will meet early next week to decide on a date for the match replay. An offer had been made to replay the match today, but Wales declined.

(Personally, I’m delighted. A replay today would have meant I’d have missed it. The Six Nations: it’s all about me, really.)

View a slideshow of images from last night’s game.

The game (or half a game) itself was impressive. Both teams were fairly evenly matched, with Wales playing well defensively. Ireland appeared to have an edge, however, reflected by the 10-3 scoreline at half time.

Despite being confined to the Wales half for some time, Ashleigh Baxter and Lynne Cantwell combined before Cantwell got the ball to Connacht’s Alison Miller. Miller capitalised, with a blistering run from deep inside the Wales half to the try line, touching down in the 18th minute.

Niamh Briggs easily made the conversion, to make it Ireland 7-0 Wales.

Ireland later conceded a penalty in front of the uprights, giving away an easy three points to Wales. At the end of the half, a penalty was awarded in Ireland’s favour, and Briggs stepped up again for the kick. Sending the ball over dead centre from an awkward angle, Briggs made earning the additional three points look easy. The score at half time: Ireland 10-3 Wales.

Standout players included: Alison Miller, with a fantastic run and try; Niamh Briggs, with impeccable kicking; Sophie Spence, including an impressive run in her debut for Ireland; captain Fiona Coghlan, with a cracking block of a Welsh kick near the visitors try line.

More:

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Six Nations: Team Ireland (part 2)

click here — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:00:17 +0000

Happy Six Nations Day, everyone!

Yesterday we introduced you to Ireland’s starting XV against Wales this Friday night, including the views of skipper Fiona Coghlan and former skipper Joy Neville.

The game kicks off this year’s RBS Six Nations proceedings from Ashbourne RFC.

Here we take a look at the XV’s replacements. An overview of the full squad (before the final cut) can be found here.

Let the games begin – Smashy smashy!

Tonight’s XV Replacements

16. NEWBIE: Paula Fitzpatrick (St Mary’s/Leinster) *

New to the Ireland side, and a member of the Leinster squad, Fitzpatrick was captain of St Mary’s RFC for several years and coaches Leinster’s youth side. When she’s not belting around a rugby pitch, you might find her wielding a hockey stick at Glenanne Sports Club in Dublin. Or if she’s not there, you might find her in a lab. Like her team mates, she’s got plenty of brains as well as braun, and is a PhD candidate at DCU’s School of Health and Human Performance. It involves lots of NaHCO³, and that’s all we need to know really.

17. NEWBIE: Ruth O’Reilly (Galwegians/Connacht) *

Another newbie, and another woman from the Wesht. Ruth O’Reilly is a Munster ex-pat, from Tralee, and lives in Galway. Along with provincial and national team mate Carol Staunton, she’s an assistant coach to the Connacht u-17 girls team, and therefore is one of those people who are instrumental to developing the pathways in women’s rugby mentioned by skipper Fiona Coghlan. O’Reilly can produce some impressive tackles, and has impact defensively as well as in anchoring the scrum, so here’s hoping it won’t be long until she gets the opportunity to demonstrate her skills.

18. NEWBIE: Siobhán Fleming (Tralee/Munster) *

Another of the uncapped players called up by Philip Doyle, and it’s easy to see why, Siobhán Fleming plays at flanker position. Another latecomer to rugby, Fleming started out in the sport only in 2007, and yet she’s captain of her club, Tralee RFC, and last year won Munster Ladies Rugby Player of the Year. She had originally been called up to play for her country last year, but was unable to participate due to personal reasons, so it’s particularly welcome to see her wearing the green jersey in 2012. She and her team mates appeared on Monday’s “Against the Head” on RTÉ Two. Take a look, sure (skip to 25 minutes in).

19. LEGEND: Heather O’Brien (Highfield/Munster)

The second qualified physiotherapist on the Ireland side (as far as I can tell), Cork’s Heather O’Brien plays in the lock position with Highfield, Munster and Ireland. She probably knows all about struggle and hard graft, and must be made of grit, having worked as a physio at two hospitals in the Irish health system before settling in private practice. Oh, and while she was working in the public system, she worked as a physio in private clinics, with rugby teams, GAA teams, basketball teams and the FAI. As well as pursuing further qualifications in specialist areas of her discipline. Clearly there are too many hours in the day, like.

An honours graduate from university in Edinburgh, she has also plaid college rugby in Scotland, as well as with the Irish Exiles and the invitational Shamrock Warriors 7s side. And if she’s feeling bored, she might just complete a marathon, climb Kilimanjaro, compete and/or teach various equestrian sports, and cycle the 80km round trip to work. Apparently. What is it with over achieving Irish rugby-playing physiotherapists, eh?

20. Larissa Muldoon (Exile/UWIC/Ulster)

After new cap, Ashleigh Baxter, is Larissa Muldoon the second-most wee member on the squad? (Well, they’re both born in 1991, so I feel old either way.) All the way from Ballybofey (wahey!), Cappry native Muldoon returns to the Ireland side again since the last Six Nations, after earning three caps thus far. Studying at and playing for the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, as well as the Irish Exiles, she will be very familiar with some of the opposition tonight who on other days are fellow team mates. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0BQE4ZR6go

she is speaking to IRFU TV and being just adorable. Aw. Mind you, she’s a scrum half, so that’s actually a bit scary.

21. NEWBIE: Nikki Caughey (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) *

We’ve found our baby of the bunch! (Née 1992.) Another brand new player http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Nj69yLzeXw

up to the national side and addition to Ireland’s Ulster contingent (that number is now seven, down from nine following the final cut) is Belfast Harlequins captain Nikki Caughey. Like her club team mate, Baxter, Caughey has been racking up the tries in her first two years playing senior rugby. She recently made several excellent runs, scored two tries and converted 5 out of 6 conversions for her club when Longford received a tremendous drubbing. Unsurprisingly, she was voted Players’ Player after the match.

It’s easy to understand Caughey’s accomplishments at such a young age, given that she has been playing since the age of five or six. She’s also a dab hand at hockey and netball, for the laughs, like. Caughey’s dream of playing for Ireland may be just around the corner (perhaps tonight), and the next goal? World Cup 2014 in France, baby!

22. AN Other

Ireland have left a spot empty on the bench as they await word on centre Shannon Houston‘s fitness. The Canadian, now a naturalised Irish citizen, collected an impressive 25 caps coming into the 2010 World Cup as a strong running centre, and since her debut in 2006 the tally is now running into the 30s.

A doctor by profession, she plays club rugby for Blackrock RFC and for Leinster. When she’s not representing club, province and country on the field, or curing disease, she’s a fan of skiing, and includes competitive weight lifting as part of her fitness programme. Of course!

* Denotes uncapped player

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Six Nations: Team Ireland (part 1)

click here — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:30:06 +0000

It’s Six Nations Eve, everyone!

On Tuesday RTÉ brought us news of Philip Doyle’s choice for Ireland’s starting XV against Wales tomorrow night. (I know: RTÉ reporting on women in sport. Knock me on over with a feather!)

The game kicks off this year’s RBS Six Nations proceedings at Ashbourne RFC.

Also on Tuesday (knock me over a second time!), The Irish Times reported on captain Fiona Coghlan’s thoughts about her expectations as Friday night approaches.

The primary concern lies with the lack of team games played in advance of the competition. Ireland haven’t played a game since the last Six Nations. You read that right: that’s almost exactly a year. And with plenty of new talent in the squad, Ireland will hit the ground running in terms of putting their training into practice.

She told Scrumqueens:

We are set as we can be. We will have had four weekends together and there are some new faces in the squad so it will be good to see how they gel with the side in the first game out against Wales. They are similar to ourselves in that we haven’t had much time in games to work on things so I would say we will be fairly even. This game is always a massive one for both sides.

Discussing the fresh faces to the team, the Ireland captain told IRFU TV that many of the new players have excellent levels of skill and understanding of the game. She continued:

There have been [new] underage teams set up, so girls are playing [rugby] at a younger age. Their skill level is higher, their understanding of the game is better. And then they’ve been coming up through the provincials. Then there were inter-pros, and they were spotted at that, and then brought into national training for strength and conditioning. [The new squad members] have been involved since September in training and conditionging, so it’s been really good.

She confirmed that the development pathways from youth teams to national level are now meant to reflect the approach taken with the men’s game.

Coghlan, along with Lynne Cantwell and fellow team mates also appeared on Monday’s “Against the Head” on RTÉ Two. Those interviewed talked about their training, as well as about the challenges faced by the women’s game and the fact that the women’s game remains, as Ryle Nugent put it, “resolutely amateur”. It’s well worth a look (skip to 25 minutes in).

With all of that in mind, let’s take a look at the fifteen players selected for tonight’s game. There’s a healthy mix: Legends of the Ball; hardy perennial stalwarts; and wee newbies fresh from making their way up through the ranks.

We’ll also have a run-down of the XV’s replacements tomorrow, so check back! An overview of the full squad named before Christmas can be found here.

So, without further ado, to the players:

Backs

15. NEWBIE: Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) *

Belfast native Baxter plays at fullback position, and is just a wee thing at 21 years of age and 5’5″. She teams up with experienced hands Alison Miller and Niamh Kavanagh to complete the back three. But don’t let age or a singular cap deceive you: she began playing rugby in second year in school. Compare that with some of Ireland’s top players who began their rugby careers after their school years. Unsurprising, then, that she spent the end of last year scoring oodles of tries and conversions. More of that, please!

14. Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians/Munster)

This particular Niamh Kavanagh isn’t Ireland’s Eurovision legend, but is well on her way to becoming a legend for Ireland. Hailing from Offaly, Kavanagh made her first appearance for her country during last year’s Six Nations, and in her first two appearances managed to score a try for Ireland in each game against France and Italy. According to the woman herself, she’s met a Boston Celtic, is a fan of her Nan’s beef dinners, and is a bit addicted to YouTube. Here’s hoping she’s brought her lucky sports bra. She told the Offaly Express her feelings on playing for Ireland: “I’m very lucky and privileged. There’s loads of competition there. I don’t know what way to describe it really but it’s fantastic.”

13. LEGEND: Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster)

Careful now. Clonmel’s own Garda Briggs, by now a fixture of the Irish team, won’t take yer messin’. (Probably.) Previously playing the fullback position, Briggs joins Grace Davitt in the centre pairing. She’s a one time Munster Women’s Player of the Year, and member of Scrumqueens team of 2011. Keep up the kicking and get that long arm of the law over that try line, will ya?

12. Grace Davitt (Cooke/Ulster)

Stamullen’s Grace Davitt has played at outhalf and on the wings, with clubs Boyne and Blackrock as well as her current club, Cooke RFC. Tomorrow night she’ll play at inside centre, teaming up with Niamh Briggs. A reliable kicker for Ireland, she’s also had her fair share of tries. Keep her lit, Davitt!

11. Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Highfield/Connacht)

Winger and full-back Miller is Connacht’s captain, one of three provincial captains on the Ireland side. The peripatetic Laois woman, teacher and relative newcomer to rugby, starts against Wales on the left wing. Miller’s sporting origins are in athletics. She rose through the ranks of Laois county football from the age of 21, had a brief dalliance with rugby while in college, before she began playing for Portlaoise RFC in 2009. She has risen steadily in three short years. Give those Welsh hell, Miller!

10. LEGEND: Lynne Cantwell (Exile)

Everyone loves an over-achiever. With a record number of caps for Ireland, and representing her country at no less than three World Cup tournaments, Cantwell will earn her 68th cap against Wales on tomorrow night. With another change in the usual player positions, she lines out in the fly half position and will team up with Amy Davis.

A graduate of the University of Limerick with a Masters from Southampton, Cantwell is a qualified physio, and isn’t alone on the team in that respect. Previously working in Ireland and New Zealand, and popping over to Oz for an advanced diploma (as you do), she now works at a practice in the UK. Oh, and she’s qualified in acupuncture. Starting out in rugby while at uni, she’s played for Munster, UL Bohemians, College Rifles (Auckland), Richmond RFC; she’s from Dublin’s northside (superextrabonuspointsthankyou); she’s happy to partake in a pinch of athletics, basketball, camogie and swimming; has been up for numerous awards and has won several (exhibit A, B and C); she’s been nudging the IRFU towards holding Ireland’s matches at Lansdowne Road; and has worked with the Wooden Spoon children’s charity raising funds to improve the lives of mentally, physically and socially disadvantaged kids in the UK & Ireland. Plus she’s mad for a chicken korma.

Did we mention that she’s a legend?

9. Amy Davis (Blackrock/Leinster)

Comfortable at scrum half, wing or centre, Davis is another experienced hand for Ireland and will team up with Cantwell tomorrow at the scrum half position. A University of Ulster woman, originally for County Down, and with a rake of caps to her name, Davis can also turn her hand to athletics, weight lifting and water sports if the mood takes her. Here she is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU_jxbNGSeM

the chats with Ireland and Leinster team mate Tania Rosser.

Forwards

1. LEGEND: Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster) (capt.)

Yes, everyone loves Paul O’Connell and welcomes his captaincy for this year’s Six Nations, but there was a kind of fabulous symmetry with Brian O’Driscoll as skipper: both he and Fiona Coghlan are Clontarf natives, both captain Leinster, and of course both captain the national team. Coghlan has spoken of her anticipation of tomorrow night’s game against Wales: she knows they face a tough side but, despite the lack of game play with Ireland’s new line-up, she’s confident in her team. She stays on as prop tomorrow, leading Ireland in the loosehead position.

After Cantwell, she’s one of the country’s most capped players along with Joy Neville. A late-comer to rugby, she’s always been an enthusiastic sports woman. She tried out for Munster before joining the Leinster squad, and was introduced to the national side in 2002. When Coghlan is not propping up the Irish scrum she’s a full time PE and maths teacher. So behave down the back!

2. LEGEND: Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster)

The University of Limerick just churns out Ireland’s top rugby players, and here’s another. Ireland’s hooker tomorrow, Bourke is among our veterans at the front and can also be found playing at prop. She started with the national team in 2009, had the good fortune and tenacity to be part of the side that defeated France, and has been a fixture ever since. Bourke is keenly aware of the additional dedication and challenges faced by women players compared with the men: “People don’t realise the commitment that women put in to play with their national team. I’m alright because my work can be reasonably flexible but there’s girls there who have less suitable jobs. There are a few teachers on the team who have to go to their headmaster asking for about 15 days off when that mightn’t be possible.”

She’s coached the UL team, as well as working as a youth development officer in Galway. Bourke is also a keen show jumper, if you don’t mind. (She doesn’t have much time for soccer players, though: they’re just too soft.)

3. Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

TCD graduate Egan is another top Leinster player on the national side. Her debut for Ireland was during last year’s Six Nations tournament, and she plays again at tighthead prop, joining Coghlan and Bourke in the front row. Rack up those caps! Do Ireland proud! Trinners for winners!

4. Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

Although she has previously played at full back, Maz Reilly again takes up her position tomorrow night in the second row as lock. She first lined out for Ireland in 2010. And how did it feel to get picked for the Ireland squad for the first time? “Shock … nerves … excitement! Just delighted as I knew my family would be very proud.”

Prior to playing for Old Belvedere she played with Navan and with her first club, Tralee. From the land of the Lilywhites, Reilly attended Scoil Dara in Kilcock, attended college in Tralee, lives in Meath, and works as a sports development officer. So there now.

5. NEWBIE: Sophie Spence (Exile) *

Welcoming another new face into the Six Nations squad, Spence takes up the number 5 lock position in the second row. A current member of the Mowden Sharks, her previous clubs have been Teesside Uni and Darlington. In the autumn she made a powerful run for the Irish Exiles against Camp Hill (Birmingham), bursting through several tackles to earn a try under the posts. Her birthday’s at the end of the month, so let’s hope it’s a particularly special one!

6. LEGEND: Laura Guest (Highfield/Munster)

Clonakitly’s finest. A flanker with Munster, Laura Guest is another of Irelands legendary players. Tomorrow, she’ll be the blindside flanker with back row forwards Molloy and Neville. She’s also been a prop for Ireland, and plays tighthead for Highfield RFC. During the 2010 World Cup, she stepped in as prop to replace the injured Lauren Day.

A graduate of the University of Limerick, Guest is a former Clonakilty and UL Bohs player, has earned nine caps, is a secondary school teacher, and coach to UCC’s rugby team. She’s partial to a bit of golf, cycling, swimming and camogie if they’re going.

7. Claire Molloy (Bristol/Exile)

Openside flanker for Connacht, and captain of Cardiff University’s first XV, Galwegian Claire Molloy remains in this position for Ireland, although she’s also comfortable as a centre. She plays her club rugby for Bristol. Molloy spoke with IRFU TV before the 2010 World Cup, and gave an http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLItgTxhiqM

insight into Connacht’s training and conditioning, as well as the experience of integrating into the national side. (Blogging Scrum Caps and Handbags for the IRFU, she also provided a ..unique post-World Cup run-down.) A GAA enthusiast, when her university studies in medicine took her to Wales, she settled for the next best thing: rugby. And thank feck for that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfhYig6vTNg

. LEGEND: Joy Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster)

Munster captain, former Ireland captain, one of Ireland’s most capped Ireland players with 58 caps, and a fixture of the national side for nine years. She made the Scrumqueens Team of 2011 and is described thusly: “The Ireland number 8 is an expert positional player with an array of ball skills. Works well from the base even when under pressure.”

Like Coghlan, Neville http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi_WW2HrdRs

with IRFU TV, and described the team’s preparation and the challenges they expect to face this week. She stays at the number 8 position tomorrow night. Yesterday, she spoke again about her expectations for the game, and how she’s looking forward to settle some scores against Wales:

All the training leading up to it has been really exciting and to put that jersey on, there is no better feeling to be honest.

Any time we play in the Six Nations will be a challenge but I’m really looking forward to playing Wales.

Wales is always a very hard tie. They are very strong and play with a lot of heart when they play against the likes of us.

A Limerick woman, she studied Social Studies and Social Care, works with a charitable organisation in her day-job, and has given her support to the Women’s Aid 16 Days campaign.

* Denotes uncapped player

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A Suppa Earl Gae

click here — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:24:30 +0000

It’s a gloomy, rainy Monday. Are you in any kind of mood for work? Hell no! So here’s a round-up of some of the headlines that caught our eye over the past day or so. Enjoy.

News-y

The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, urged African countries to entrench civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights to boost stability and development in the continent. He cited discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity as one of the injustices that has been ignored or even sanctioned by many States for too long.

He told leaders:

This has prompted some governments to treat people as second-class citizens, or even criminals. Confronting this discrimination is a challenge. But we must live up to the ideals of the Universal Declaration [of Human Rights].

And he called for greater representation of women in parliaments across Africa, which he said currently stands 20 per cent on average, as well as speaking about young people in African nations:

We must ensure that women are fully represented in decision-making bodies, including in Egypt and Tunisia, where they played a role” in the recent pro-democracy protests.

And we must restore hope and a better future for youth in Africa. Unemployment and poverty feed chronic instability and create tensions. I intend to appoint a special representative for youth, who will open dialogue with young people and lead our efforts.

South Africa’s Times Live reports that the men convicted of the murder of Zoliswa Nkonyana are due to be sentenced later this week.

Nkonyana (19) was stabbed and stoned to death outside a shebeen in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, on 4th February, 2006.

The trial of the men has been beset by repeated delays in the nation where violence against women, and in particular the persecution of lesbian women, is endemic.

In other news, and without a hint of irony, an African Christian cleric has urged that “tradition and history” in England be preserved.

The Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, told The Telegraph that “Marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman,” and “[Marriage] is set in tradition and history and you can’t just [change it] overnight, no matter how powerful you are.”

Speaking of Biblical texts and “tradition”, those very same foundations framed arguments employed by those seeking to preserve the system of slavery and the slave trade in 19th century Britain and “anti-miscegenation” laws in the 20th century US.

Blogger Blabbeando brings has tweeted the news that Cuba’s Communist Party “has officially adopted platform to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity”. Far from being a bastion of human rights vindication, it will be interesting to see who this “official” move by the Cuban authorities plays out.

Meanwhile, Pinksixty News reports that Jamaican gay rights activist Maurice Tomlinson has fled his country after the police said they couldn’t guarantee his safety. Following reports of his marriage in Toronto to his Canadian partner, increased death threats made it impossible for him to remain.

On the good news front, lesbians feature in good-parents-shocker!

Q News brings us the latest from the National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study.

The Study began in 1986, and the latest findings examines the situation of about 80 teenagers parented by lesbian couples. The young people were matched on gender, age, parental education, and ethnic background with adolescents in heterosexual-parent families. The children were interviewed at age 10 and again at age 17 with queries about their activities, social lives, feelings of anxiety or depression, and behaviour.

The authors found that children raised by lesbian mothers – whether partnered or single – scored very similarly to children raised by heterosexual parents on measures of development and social behaviour. They also discovered that children in lesbian homes scored higher than those in straight families on some psychological measures of self-esteem and confidence; did better academically and were less likely to have behavioural problems, such as rule-breaking and aggression

Take that, Professor Patricia Casey!

“Quality of Life of Adolescents Raised from Birth by Lesbian Mothers” is published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics.

Sport-y

On Wednesday, the Six Nations rugby fest was officially launched in London. It may have been easily missed (thank you, mainstream media) but the women’s captains were there as well as the men’s captains, and there’s even photographic evidence to prove it!

Here’s the skippers namecheck: Fiona Coughlan (Ireland); Sara Barattin (Italy); Katie McLean (England); Susie Brown (Scotland); Rachel Taylor (Wales); Nathalie Amiel (France).

(IRFU / TheScore)

Across the pond, the USA was victorious over Canada with four goals to nil in the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying final, securing the States qualification for this year’s tournament in London. Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan secured their country’s win with two goals each.

Fluff-y

In celebrity-ville, at last night’s Screen Actors Guild Awards, Emma Stone and Emily Blunt were looking a-fecking-mazing.

* swoon *

Irishers may not be too familiar with the phrase “No homo” – so here’s an intro from Current TV’s Bryan Safi to get you up to speed:

Now, Chescaleigh – she of “http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylPUzxpIBe0

white girls say to black girls” fame – brings you the ultimate how-to in finally ridding us of the rotten phrase. Behold!

Six Nations may pave Ireland’s way to World Cup 2014

click here — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:30:03 +0000

Scrumqueens and the official Rugby World Cup website brought us news yesterday of the qualification process for the 2014 World Cup tournament.

According to the International Rugby Board (IRB), in total there will be six automatic qualifiers: New Zealand, England, Australia, France, USA and Canada.

As far as Ireland is concerned, the Six Nations tournaments of this year and next could decide the issue. Ireland opens this year’s Six Nations competition on 3rd February next, taking on Wales at Ashbourne RFC.

For the European teams looking to qualify for the Rugby World Cup, England and France will automatically qualify due to England being World Cup runners up in 2010 and France being the hosts in 2014.

The two top Six Nations teams other than England and France, therefore, will qualify plus the highest ranked teams in Europe.

If we look at the Six Nations tables, this looks promising for Ireland. Last year’s is below, and reflects the team’s form over recent years:

The expanded qualification process underscores the commitment of the IRB to grow global participation and achieve greater competitiveness as set out in the recently launched IRB Women’s Rugby Plan.

IRB Women’s Development Manager Susan Carty said:

“With over 200,000 registered women currently playing the Game in over 100 countries around the world, the qualification process reflects the significant and sustained growth we have experienced in recent years in the Women’s Game.”

“We now have an improved tournament structure around the world which reflects the appetite for high level elite competition amongst traditional and emerging nations and we have incorporated these existing competitions, wherever possible, into the qualification process in line with the IRB Women’s Rugby Plan.”

As I write this, the radio broadcasts an ad for a national newspaper’s special supplement on schools’ rugby, including detailed analyses and squad-by-squad breakdown. It’s a pity this level of sports reporting doesn’t seem to apply to women’s senior rugby, as well as the kiddies’ game.

Given the IRFU’s commitment to developing the women’s game in Ireland, let’s hope they and the mainstream press show the level of support deserving of our national team.

Anyone for the Rugby World Cup 2018 in Lansdowne Road?

Six Nations fixtures announced

click here — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:30:06 +0000

The Six Nations 2012 fixtures have finally been confirmed, thanks to ScrumQueens, with the tournament kicking off on Friday, 3rd February, when Ireland take on Wales at home.

There will be no fixtures at Lansdowne Road (or Aviva, if you insist). England get to play at least one game at Twickenham, and Wales at least one game at the Millennium Stadium.

I hope to be able to cheer the team on, but it’s curious: All of Ireland’s home fixtures take place on a Friday, while every men’s game will all take place on a Saturday or a Sunday (Fridays having been ditched), so there would be no risk of fixtures clashing.

Although the Ashbourne AFC grounds have, as ScrumQueens put it, served Ireland well, all of the women’s and men’s games could be accommodated at Lansdowne Road.

Update

The Fingal Independent reports on the recent Fingal Sports Star Of The Year for 2011 and spoke with Ireland’s most capped rugby player, Lynne Cantwell. Her thoughts on the evening:

That night it was really, really special to be there with Brian O’Driscoll and Sean O’Brien, and to schmooze with some of the big guns in the IRFU. [...] It was good to be able to talk to them one-to-one about playing in Lansdowne Road. There’s no reason why we can’t play in these stadiums and hopefully we will.

Hear hear!

/ Update

Notable also is that today – less than a month before the tournament begins – is the first time that all of the 6 Nations 2012 women’s fixtures have been announced, while as far back as January 2011, the men’s fixtures have been known for both 2012 and 2013.

ScrumQueens has also reported the concerns of coach, Philip Doyle, over Ireland’s lack of test games in advance of the 6 Nations tournament and his fears that the team will have to play catch-up by comparison with their competitors.

Surely something’s wrong here. I would hate to think that the women’s game is being neglected, especially since the IRB’s recent announcement of a Women’s Development Plan.

Regardless of the challenges the team faces, however, I’ll be giving them my full support throughout the 6 Nations. Come on, Ireland! Heeeeeeave!

The full 6 Nations fixtures list is below. You can keep up to date on the ScrumQueens 2012 Fixtures and Results page here.

Round One

Fri, 3rd Feb: Ireland v Wales (Ashbourne RFC at 19:30)
Sun, 5th Feb: France v Italy (Stade Emile Pons Riom at 15:00)
Sun, 5th Feb: Scotland v England (Lasswade RFC at 17:00)

Round Two

Sat, 11th Feb: France v Ireland (Stade de Hameau, Pau, at 18:30)
Sun, 12th Feb: Italy v England (Rino Venegoni Stadium, Parabiago (Milan), at 15:00)
Sun, 12th Feb: Wales v Scotland (Cross Keys RFC at 13:00)

Round Three

Fri, 24th Feb: Ireland v Italy (Ashbourne RFC at 19:30)
Sat, 25th Feb: England v Wales (Twickenham at 18:15)
Sat, 25th Feb: Scotland v France (Stirling County RFC at 14:00)

Round Four

Fri, 9th Mar: Ireland v Scotland (Ashbourne RFC at 19:30)
Sat, 10th Mar: Wales v Italy (Millenium Stadium at 17:00)
Sun, 11th Mar: France v England (Stade Charlety, Paris, at 13:45)

Round Five

Sat, 17th Mar: England v Ireland (Esher RFC, London, at 14:30)
Sun, 18th Mar: Italy v Scotland (Pagani Stadium, Rovato (near Brescia), at 15:00)
Sun, 18th Mar: Wales v France (Cross Keys RFC at 14:00)

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