Rugby continues to grow in popularity with girls
The number of girls playing rugby has increased across Leinster in the last few years and particularly in the north east where forward-thinking clubs like Navan, North Meath, Ardee, Dundalk, Skerries, Ashbourne and Balbriggan have consistently fielded teams from mini to youth grades.
Despite the problems associated with Covid-19 restrictions this season, Boyne RFC has revived the girls section and Leinster’s newest club, Carlingford has just started developing a team for girls.
Looking at each club, the progress achieved is impressive.
NAVAN
Navan RFC has a vibrant girls section, starting at u-10 all the way up to u-18.
This season there are over 100 girls training making their presence felt on the pitches of Balreask Old.
The girls compete at a good level and are respected throughout Leinster.
Each season Navan is also well represented on regional development teams.
This season there are three players, Aine Nangle, Molly O’Brien and Jade Gaffney on the Leinster u-18 squad.
They are following in the footsteps of Molly Fitzgerald and Leah Reilly who have played under-age for both Leinster and Ireland.
Before them came Meaghan Kenny and Maedbh Smyth, both played for Leinster u-18s.
Navan has a long tradition of developing top class female athletes .
NORTH MEATH
North Meath RFC put the success of their women's section down to the hard work of one person, Ben Traynor.
When he arrived as CCRO in the club they had no girls section and it was through his perseverance and dedication that they have developed a thriving and vibrant female section.
In the last few seasons this success has been most evident in the number of players that have represented the club as part of the North East u-18 squad, Leinster and most recently for Ireland .
This year they also introduced the first training session exclusively for girls (aged from six up to 14) each Sunday which has proved a great success and will boost female participation in the sport as well as the club.
DUNDALK
The ethos for girls at Dundalk RFC has been “Why Fit In When You Were Born To Stand Out.”
It is something that continues to be promoted by the club's coaching teams who continue to encourage the Dundalk girls to be the best they can.
They have been superb role models and ambassadors for the girls game as a result of the belief instilled at grassroots level.
Dundalk is another club with over 100 girls playing rugby thanks to the hard work of Suzanne Flynn, Linda Valentine, Dermot Lennon and other volunteers working behind the scenes.
In 2019 the club's u-18 player Ellie Meade was given the honour of leading out the Leinster u-18 girls at interprovincial level.
She was joined by Caoimhe O’Callaghan and Nina Hjalmers while Sophie Kinghan had the honour of lining out on the Ulster wing.
Caoimhe O’Callaghan and Nina Hjalmers continued to represent Leinster and were selected for the Ireland u-18 sevens squad.
Last season they were also joined by Maria Smith who was selected for both the interprovincial and international squads.
The club's commitment to the development and promotion of the girls game was such that an event to celebrate the growth of girls rugby and success on the pitch had been planned for March however it has yet to take place.
This was the first time a rugby club had planned an event in celebration of the contribution of their ladies while also honouring the memory of those Dundalk RFC ladies who had lost the fight against breast cancer and to support those who continued the battle by hosting a fundraiser - 'No High Tackles Just High Heels' in aid of the National Breast Cancer Research Institute.
The initiative received the backing of both Leinster Rugby and the IRFU.
ASHBOURNE / BALBRIGGAN
Ashbourne RFC and Balbriggan RFC joined forces two seasons ago to form ABS and are now fielding teams from u-8 to u-18.
It's always difficult combining two clubs, but hard work from coaches and the management from Emma O’Kennedy made it a success.
The progress did not go unnoticed by the North-East Leinster and Metro selectors.
Several of the girls were selected to represent the North East panel with Orla Hayes representing Metro.
Hannah Barton was selected for the Leinster u-18 panel while the level of performance of Orla Hayes has been recognised at the very highest level, culminating in a professional contract with the IRFU.
She will now go on to represent Railway Union and Ireland ladies sevens.
SKERRIES
Aislinn Duffy and Tom Coleman are doing sterling work having started a few seasons ago with minis.
They have made full use of the “Give it a try” initiative and are now fielding u-14 and u-16 teams as well as the minis.
OTHER CLUBS
Ardee RFC is another up and coming girls club with a strong u-16 team and with Carlingford and Boyne starting to develop teams the future of girls rugby in the north east looks promising.