Laois And Offaly Represented In First Ever Women's National Talent Squad

Wednesday, 2 March 2022 13:21

Both play their club rugby in Tullamore.

There's representatives from Laois and Offaly in the first ever Emerging Talent Women's Rugby Squad named today.

It's aim is to accelerate the progression of the thirteen selected players and give them exposure to both senior XV's and Sevens rugby.

18 year-old pair Leah Tarpey and Aoife Dalton of Tullamore Rugby Club are included.

Initially 13 players have been enrolled in the programme which supports the Ireland U18 XV squad and is aligned with the National Women’s XV and 7s programmes to enable WNTS talent to be exposed to the senior women’s environment.

WNTS players Aoife Dalton, Leah Tarpey and Emma Tilly were recently included in the 41 player training squad assembled by Ireland Women’s head coach Greg McWilliams. The next WNTS camp is scheduled for 19-20th March.

IRFU Women’s Performance Pathway Coach Katie Fitzhenry, commented:

"It was great to get the programme up and running and to give these young athletes their first taste of a high performance environment. These players have been identified through a mixture of the U18 Interpros last year and from feedback from provincial and club coaches. Developing a strong talent ID network will be a big focus of the programme as it grows year on year catering for more young female talent."

"The aim of this programme is to advance players to a level where they can pull on a green jersey whether that is in XVs or Olympic 7s or be integrated into the senior women’s programmes. There is great alignment and support for the WNTS so it is an exciting time to be getting this programme up and running."

2022 WNTS Players

Sophie Barrett (18yrs) – Enniskillen RFC/Ulster, Integrated College, Enniskillen

Molly Boote (17yrs) – Connemara RFC/Connacht, Clifden Community School

Hannah Clarke (16yrs) – Ougherard RFC/Connacht, St Pauls Secondary School

Aoife Dalton (18yrs) – Tullamore RFC/Leinster, UCD

Alanna Fitzpatrick (17yrs) – Portarlington RFC/Leinster, Colaiste Iosagain, Portarlington

Kate Flannery (18yrs) – Fethard RFC/Munster, Rockwell College

Brianna Heylmann (18yrs) – Tipperary Women’s Rugby/Munster, Waterpark College

Aisling McEnroe (17yrs) – Virginia RFC/Ulster, Cavan Institute

Éabha Nic Dhonnacha (17yrs) – Corinthians RFC/Connacht, Scoil Chumsitheach Chiarain

Dannah O’Brien (18yrs) – Tullow RFC/Leinster, Tullow Community School

Eva Sterritt (17yrs) – Greystones RFC/Leinster, Temple Carrig School, Greystones