Im recent week’s a couple of girls who started playing rugby at youth level with Portlaoise RFC have been hitting the headlines at representative level.
A couple of weeks ago Eimear Corri Fallon made an impressive return to the Irish jersey having been laid up with a serious injury for almost 12 months.
Eimear wore the number five jersey in Ireland’s first Rugby World Cup warm up game against Scotland.
She then made an appearance off the bench for their second warm up game against Canada where she once again impressed, so much so that two days later she was named on the Irish squad for the Women’s World Cup which kicks off on Friday. Ireland’s first game is against Japan on Sunday at 12pm.
Then we had Rebecca Cahill who stole the headlines scoring two tries in Leinster U-18 Girls win over Ulster 10 days ago.
She was also selected to play on the wing at the weekend against Munster.
She also had a memorable U-18 Six Nations campaign earlier this year when she was the championship’s top try scorer with four to her name.
And these two girls are only the latest in a line or Portlaoise females players who have represented their province and Ireland.
Alison Miller blazed the trail as Portlaoise RFC’s first international.
She joined Connacht in 2009 and made her international debut the following.
She was a try-scoring machine scoring 24 in her time in the Ireland shirt. Her most notable was one scored in the 2014 World Cupo win over New Zealand. She scored a memorable hattrick against England on the way to winning the Grand Slam in 2013.
Held in such esteem she was inducted into the Rugby Players Ireland Hall of Fame two years ago.
In more recent times Emma Hooban played for Leinster and Ireland while Koren Dunne likewise represented both at U-18 level.
Portlaoise RFC would love to see that tradition continue and are now in the process of recruiting new female members. There are currently almost 100 girls from U-12 to U-19.
What the club is now setting out to do is strengthen the Women’s section. Training has recently commenced and they are inviting all to come out and give rugby a try.
Absolutely no experience is necessary. Remember that the afore mentioned girls hardly knew the shape of a rugby ball when they first set foot in Togher.
PRFC Women’s Co-ordinator, Amanda Hade says: “We would love to see girls come out and give it a try.
“You might not get to represent Leinster or Ireland, but we can guarantee you a great time, where you will make new friends and have plenty of craic and enjoyment.”
For further information contact Amanda on 085 8455116.
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