RWC: Getting To Know Gillian Bourke

As excitement builds for Ireland’s World Cup opening fixture against USA this Friday, we catch up with Munster hooker Gillian Bourke as she prepares to line out in her second campaign.

The Ireland squad travelled to Marcoussis, in the southern suburbs of Paris last Sunday, where all three of their 'Pool B' matches will feature.

Gillian joins fellow Munster players Fiona Hayes, Siobhán Fleming, Heather O’Brien, Niamh Briggs and Laura Guest who have all been selected to represent their country in the premier competition for women’s rugby.

A Limerick native, Gillian began her rugby career with UL Bohemian RFC in 2003 while studying Sport Science at the University of Limerick.

Selected for Munster in 2007, Gillian has six interprovincial wins to her credit as well as the Munster Cup, Ireland Cup and 9 All Ireland League titles with UL Bohs.

Having made her debut against Italy during the 2008 Six Nations, Gillian, who is one of the most experienced players in the Ireland squad, has been capped for her country on 41 occasions and was part of Ireland’s Grand Slam winning team in 2013.

Getting To Know Gillian Bourke

Date of Birth: 28 August 1984 (Age 29).

Club: UL Bohemian RFC.

Munster Caps: 22.

Ireland Caps: 41.

Profession: Performance Analyst.

Favourite Food: Mushrooms and Black Pudding, preferably together!

Book you are currently reading or have just finished: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.

Favourite TV programme: The Good Wife.

Favourite Film: Finding Nemo.

Favourite Actor/Actress: Jennifer Lawrence.

Most enjoyable holiday location: New Zealand, but Grenagh is a close second!

Marooned on a desert island what could you not be without: Mushrooms, my phone and a Diet Coke vending machine.

Favourite sport other than rugby: Extreme Ironing.

The sport you least like: Cricket… I just don’t get it.

Person you would most like to meet: The fella who owns Fig Rolls to ask him how do you get the figs in the Fig Roll.

Sportsperson you admire most: Paul O’Connell… Legend!

Hobbies: Surfing, Dancing at the Crossroads, Baling Hay.

Where and when did you first play rugby: Started playing when I went to UL with the College team in 2003.

Biggest influence on career: Fiona Coughlan (Ireland Captain)…… although I wouldn’t tell her that too often….She was at the first training session I ever went to and although she was fairly scary back then, shes always pushed me to be a better player, even when I was doubting myself.

Best career advice you were given: Follow your interests and not the money.

Best advice you would give yourself: Always try new things… but especially the things that scare you!

What you like most/least about being a rugby player: Most – the friends I’ve made through rugby. Least – the bruises & pain on a Monday morning.

Other sports that you played: Did quite a lot of show jumping and cross country when I was younger.

Best rugby memory: I have so many… the Grand Slam in 2013 was an unbelieveable journey, getting to play in Twickenham and the Aviva this year was also very special……but the best moment was walking onto the pitch in the 2010 WRWC against England, the atmosphere was amazing and it was a very proud moment.

Rugby player you admire most: Brian O’Driscoll – He’s had some run of it!

Rugby team you admire most: Munster of course… Pride, Passion & Heart… enough said!

Sporting event you would most like to attend: Ireland in a Rugby World Cup Final.

If you weren't a rugby player what would you be: A mushroom farmer in New Zealand!

How would you like to pass away the time on tour in between training: Float around having the craic.

Three people you would invite to dinner and why: Pink for a few tunes, the Honey Badger cause he’s a legend and Michael McIntrye because hes hilarious……and I reckon none of them would understand a word the others were saying!

Related Articles

Getting To Know Niamh Briggs
Getting To Know Heather O’Brien
Getting To Know Siobhán Fleming
Getting To Know Laura Guest
Getting To Know Fiona Hayes

To view Munster players Peter O'Mahony and Donncha O'Callaghan's message of support click here

Ireland Women's Rugby World Cup Fixtures: – Pool Games

Fri, 1st August USA v Ireland FFR Headquarters – Pitch 2 (kick-off 17.00)
Tue, 5th August New Zealand v Ireland FFR Headquarters – Pitch 1(kick-off 18.00)
Sat 9th August Ireland v Kazakhstan FFR Headquarters – Pitch 2 (kick-off 13.00)

Playoffs:
Wed, 13th August
Sun, 17th August

Ireland's pool games will broadcast live on TG4 as well as both semi-finals and final. Ireland's game against New Zealand will be televised live on Sky Sports.

Tickets for the games can be purchased from http://www.ticketmaster.fr/en/liste/idlist/45/idtier/1493223

To tweet your message of support for the Ireland Women you can use the hashtag #shouldertoshoulder ahead of their Pool B matches where they face USA, Kazakstan and defending champions New Zealand.

Follow all Women's Rugby World Cup updates on #WRWC2014

Gillian Bourke, seated third (L-R) pictured with the Ireland World Cup Squad 2014.