Jackie Shiels with the collection of silverware she and the Navan players won last season.

Shiels named Coach of the Year

Published: Thu 4 Jul 2024, 10:04 AM

Last updated: Thu 4 Jul 2024, 10:09 AM

Former international praises coaching team and players

Craig Williamson

The online Irish rugby fansite, The 22 Rugby, has honored Navan RFC's Senior Women's Head Coach, Jackie Shiels, with the title of "Women's Rugby Coach of the Year" for the 2023/2024 season.

This recognition highlights her outstanding achievements during the past season, where Navan RFC not only consistently fielded two adult women's teams for the first time but also saw both teams clinch their respective League and Cup doubles in competitive competitions.

In response to the accolade, Shiels expressed her gratitude to The 22 Rugby, stating: "Coaching is made a lot easier when you have a great coaching team beside you and talented, hardworking players to coach."

Shiels' leadership and dedication have been instrumental in the remarkable success of Navan RFC's Women's teams, and this award is a testament to her exceptional coaching abilities and the collective effort of the entire team.

Former Navan RFC player on Irish women's u-20 squad

Former Navan youths player Jade Gaffney is among the 28 players named on the Irish Women's Under 20 squad by Head Coach Niamh Briggs for the inaugural Six Nations Women’s Summer Series in Italy this week.

Previous to the final squad being named a wider training squad had been involved in a series of camps at the IRFU High Performance Centre among whom were Navan Senior player Cara Martin former youths player Abby Moyles.

The Ireland Under-20s’ opening match is against England at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi on Thursday, 4th July (kick-off 5.30pm Irish time), before Briggs’s charges face Italy in the second round on Tuesday, 9th July (kick-off 9am Irish time).

Their Summer Series campaign concludes against Scotland on Sunday, 14th July (kick-off 9am Irish time), with all of the matches streamed live on the Six Nations Under-20s YouTube channel.

FIXTURES

The IRFU released the full fixture list for the 2024/2025 Energia All-Ireland League season.

Fresh off the back of the news that Energia energy will be has announced it will renew its partnership with the IRFU for a further five years until 2029.

In Division 2A, Navan Senior Men's will begin their campaign away to Greystones on Saturday 21st September with the reverse fixture for both team marking the end of the league fixture program in early April.

Before then, Navan will begin their competitive season in the Leinster Senior Cup, with their home fixture in that competition against Wanderers marking the opening Centenary Season event with an exhibition match by the senior women's teams also taking place and the official opening of the new club gymnasium and live music happening in the clubhouse.