A young Laois rugby player is celebrating this morning having won a bronze medal over the weekend as part of Team Ireland.
Jack Delaney from Borris-in-Ossory played on the Irish Boys 15s team that came third in their division, beating Lebanon 10-2 in the play-off to claim the Bronze Medal at the 2025 Atlantic Youth Touch Cup.
The competition was the largest international touch rugby tournament ever held in Ireland, with 45 international youth teams from 12 countries descending on the University of Limerick.
Delaney and his teammates were the first Irish Boys 15s team to ever compete internationally, with all but one of the team making their international debuts.
Despite this, they showed great team spirit and skill throughout the tournament and were unlucky not to finish higher, having lost narrowly to Wales in a very tight game that finished 7-6.
Delaney, who impressed throughout the tournament with his strong defence, plays his club rugby with Roscrea RFC and also with his school, Cistercian College, and had been training for the tournament with Buccaneers Touch Rugby in Athlone.
There were two other Laois players in the tournament with Erin Fitzpatrick from Mountrath on the Girls 18s team and Keelin O’Brien from Ballyroan on the Ireland Mixed 15s.
Fitzpatrick and the majority of her teammates were also making their debut at international, with the Mountrath girl having only started playing touch rugby this year.
The Girls 18s were prevented from contending for a medal by two narrow defeats to South Africa and Wales but they gained some invaluable experience for future tournaments.
Fitzpatrick plays rugby with Portlaoise RFC and has also played with the North Midlands regional team.
Keelin O’Brien, meanwhile, impressed on the wing for the Ireland Mixed 15s team who scored wins against Belgium, Portugal and England Lions to qualify for a quarter-final against Scotland.
Unfortunately Ireland went down to a narrow 9-8 defeat to the Scots but they recovered with victories over Belgium and Portugal again to seal 5th place.
O’Brien showed an eye for a score throughout the competition, bagging four tries overall.
The Ballyroan speedster has played rugby with Portlaoise RFC as well as with her school, Kilkenny College.
Laois can be very proud of all these fantastic young players who represented their county and country so well in Limerick.
Anyone who wishes to emulate the Atlantic Cup stars and give Touch Rugby a go can play at Thursday nights from 8pm at Portlaoise RFC (contact Lynn on +353 86 798 0744).
SEE ALSO – In Pictures: Wild celebrations and big Laois attendance as Premier Junior All-Ireland claimed
