Girls Rugby at Clanwilliam

Girls rugby goes from strength to strength in Clanwilliam FC.

Connacht WRDO Wendy Hickey has been doing great work in promoting girls’ rugby in the western province. Aiming to promote under 12 girls’ rugby in Connacht she looked to Clanwilliam FC in Tipperary as one of the only clubs in Ireland with an under 12 girls’ team.
 
The result of Wendy’s work was played out in a great match between Connacht Under 12 girls and Clanwilliam in the famed Sports Ground in Galway on Sunday last. Brilliant sunshine added to an historic first for Connacht and an excellent end of season outing for the Clanwilliam girls.  There are no under 12 girls teams in Connacht so their team was built from girls who play with mixed boys and girls teams in clubs including Bearna, Loughrea, Ballinasloe, Westport and An Ghaeltacht’s mini sections.
 
The home side ran out winners in a 9 try to 7 victory, with the closeness of the scores underlining great performances from both teams.  All of the girls involved understood the history of the occasion and served up a display to match.
 
The Clanwilliam coaches said they were honoured to be asked to play Connacht on such an important day and in the Connacht version of Munster’s Thomond park.