Forget about Ireland’s woes in the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup and get yourself along to a truly unique match as Ireland Women Legends take on England Women Legends for the first time ever at Malone Rugby Club on Friday 25th. Kick of 19:30 or very close to it. 🙂
The match finishes off a fantastic day of rugby at Malone who will host over 12 hours of rugby in the the largest ever women’s competition in Ireland. More details here.
The match has been pulled together by ex Irish lock Rosie Foley, who was partly inspired to get the game going having watched her father Brendan and brother Anthony play in Legends games over the years.
Entry to the game is free though donations will be welcome for DEBRA and Wooden Spoon charities via a crowd collection.
Rosie told The FRU earlier today:
I am extremely proud to be involved and to be playing with so many pioneers of women’s rugby from both Ireland and England.
In the men’s Legends I followed both my father Brendan and my brother Anthony and I’m excited to be involved in this inaugural women’s match. I am looking forward to reconnecting with old friends and rekindling old rivalries.
Remember, admission is free so get yourself along!
Rosie Foley
There will be plenty of Ulster representation in the Ireland squad with the likes of Grace Davitt, Joy Sparkes, Lauren Day, Amy Davis and Diane Nixon amongst the names, though with Alain Rolland refereeing it’s likely that a few of the Ulster players will be getting a ten minutes sit down 😆
Perhaps the player with the greatest affinity for Ulster and Ireland is Rachel “Psycho” Reid who played for and then became Team Manager for Ireland Women. Rachel told The FRU earlier today:
Representing your country in a World Cup is such a special experience.
I was involved in the Irish team as a player then manager for 14 years, with 3 World Cups, a lot of travelling, and a fair bit of blood, sweat and tears along the way.
The friendships made along that journey are what make it so special and help you achieve your goals.
Your teammates are your rugby family and to have the opportunity to line out with them again in the green jersey in an international Legends match is like reliving the old dreams all over again.
It’s going to be emotional. So many people have worked hard to get women’s rugby where it is today and hopefully we can dedicate the match to all true Legends of the game.
Ireland Women will be coached by Philip Doyle, the most successful Irish Women’s Coach to date and with legendary captain Fiona Coghlan in the side we are certain that this will be one of the best prepared Ireland Legends teams ever!
The English squad will be coached by Carol Isherwood, one of the founding members of the RFUW, so there will be exceptional experience on both sides.
The game will be played with Golden Oldie rules with about 20 minutes of touch included so everyone gets game time.
The squads currently read as follows:
Ireland: Lauren Day, Marie Barrett, Laura Guest, Fiona Hayes, Joss Hanrahan, Elaine Collins, Gill Bourke, Sharon Lynch, Rosie Foley, Caroline Mahon, Lorraine Noade, Therese Kennedy, Jill Henderson, Jen Leacy, Rachel Reid, Debbie O’Connor, Siobhan Fleming, Wendy Keenan, Diane Nixon, Jackie McCarthy , Magali Dolo, Anne-Marie McAllister, Nicola Doyle, Edel Coen, Tania Rosser, Amy Davis, Siobhan O’Donovan, Elimar Flynn, Sinead Cosgrove, Patrique Kelly, Helen Brosnan, Carole Ann Byrne, Jacqui Horan, Grace Davitt, Olivia Brown, Mairead Kelly, Jeannette Feighery, Annie Parsons, Bridget Montgomery, Joy Sparkes, Maeve Quirke, Mel Nash, Nicki Milne, Maura Coulter, Fiona Coghlan …
England: Helen Clayton, Gill Burns, Nicky Meston, Cath Spence, Louise Latter, Helen Harding, Susan Dorrington, Sue Day, Valerie Blackett, Maxine Edwards, Claire Purdy, Mercedes Foy, Shelley Rae, Jane Coats, Emma Layland, Vicky Macqueen, Susie Appleby, Vanessa Gray, Lois Moulding, Jenny Lynn, Anne O’Flynn, Ceri Large, Becky Essex, Jo Poore …
Get yourself along for a great night’s entertainment.
