Three young players from County Laois will take the field to represent Ireland this weekend in the 2025 Atlantic Youth Touch Cup.
This competition will be the largest international Touch Rugby tournament ever to take place in Ireland, with 45 teams from 12 countries descending on the University of Limerick from Friday, August 1, to Sunday, August 3.
Keelin O’Brien from Ballyroan has been picked for the Ireland Mixed U-15 squad.
Keelin started playing Touch only this year after attending Ireland trials early 2025.
She has played rugby with Portlaoise RFC as well as with her school, Kilkenny College.
Keelin is very conscious of the great opportunity that awaits, saying: “I feel honoured to represent and play for my country and really hope that it inspires other young people, especially girls across Ireland, to step out of their comfort zone and just go for it!’
Another Portlaoise RFC player selected is Erin Fitzpatrick from Trumera who will play with the Ireland Girls U-18 squad in the tournament. Erin has also represented North Midlands in Rugby.
Both girls play Touch on Thursday nights at Portlaoise RFC as well as training with their respective Ireland Squads.
“International tournaments expose us to a variety of opponents and playing styles so I am looking forward to the challenge of adapting and improving my game to the best of my ability to match these various styles,” Erin said.
Meanwhile, Jack Delaney from Borris-in-Ossory has been selected for the Ireland Boys U-15 squad – a great achievement as he only began playing the game this year.
Jack is a student at Cistercian College Roscrea and he also plays with Roscrea RFC.
After attending trials for the Ireland Squads back in January, Jack impressed the selectors enough to get asked to join the training squad before recently making the final squad.
In order to prepare for the tournament, Jack has been training regularly with the Buccaneers Touch Rugby club in Athlone as well with the Boys 15s squad.
The Atlantic Cup action can be followed on the Federation of International Touch (FIT) website, including fixtures, results, team line-ups.
Many of the games will be livestreamed of on the FIT YouTube channel here.
Anyone in Laois who wishes to try the game can come along to Portlaoise RFC on Thursday nights from 8 – 9pm. All are welcome and no previous sporting experience is necessary.
Call Lynn O’Brien-Crosland on 086-7980744 for more information.
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