Caplice Watches Burnford Irish Haka

Women’s rugby will be taking centre-stage this summer, as Ireland plays host to the Women’s Rugby World Cup in August, with the Irish hoping to use home advantage and improve further on their fourth-place finish in 2014.

While the tournament is set to take place in Dublin and Belfast across the month of August, reigning All-Ireland League and Cup winners UL Bohemians have shown the strength of the women’s game in Munster, while an extremely competitive two divisions indicate there is also plenty of talent within the local game.

There were no less than 13 Munster players included in Anthony Eddy’s 48-strong training squad ahead of the tournament, and Niamh Briggs will be looking to compete in her third consecutive World Cup.

Off-the-field preparations continue, including the Trophy tour, which in the last few weeks visited every single county in the province, including a stop at Coláise Toibirthe in Bandon, and last week the trophy moved to North Cork as Burnfort put on a spectacular welcome.

Anna Caplice, who will be hoping to break into the Irish squad for that World Cup, got her first taste of rugby in school back in Mallow, and last week she was inspiring the next general as pupils from Burnfort National School performed a very special Haka ‘As Gaeilge’ with the trophy in tow which you can see below.

After creating a fantastic poster, making up the Irish jersey with fact-files from each player, the girls were treated to a Q&A with Anna, who made her first XV cap against Canada in last year’s November test series. The back-row forward then saw some potential future Ireland stars take part in a blitz in the village – situated just south of Mallow – organised by Mallow RFC.

Much credit is due to Burnfort NS and Mallow RFC for making the day happen, and to all the clubs and schools who have put in such hard work to make the Munster leg of the Women’s World Cup Trophy Tour a massive success.

Burnfort NS doing the Haka as Gaeilge to welcome the WRWC Trophy. 🏆 This was amazing guys! #WRWC2017 #BringIt @IrishRugby @WorldRugby pic.twitter.com/lIFqWNQasP

— Anna Caplice (@bananacaplice) April 26, 2017