RWC: Getting To Know Niamh Briggs

25th July 2014 By Munster Rugby

With just one week remaining before the Women’s World Cup kicks off, we catch up with Munster and Ireland full-back Niamh Briggs ahead of Ireland’s opening Pool B clash against USA on Friday, 1st August in France.

Waterford native Niamh, began her rugby career at Dungarvan aged 21 before making a move to senior rugby with Clonmel.

The Limerick based Garda now plays her club rugby with UL Bohemian and will travel to France along with fellow club players Gillian Bourke and Fiona Hayes to compete in her second World Cup campaign.

Since her Munster debut in 2006, Niamh has claimed a total of six interprovincial titles and has been capped for "Niamh her country on 41 occasions.

As a sporting all-rounder Niamh represented Waterford in All-Ireland Intermediate Gaelic football in 2010 and that year also competed in the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.

Awarded the Munster, Ireland and World Player of the Year titles in 2013, Niamh was the leading points scorer in Ireland’s Six Nations Grand Slam success, scoring 3 tries and kicking 28 points as she helped her side to an historic victory.

Getting To Know Niamh Briggs

Date of Birth: 30th September 1984 (Age 29).

Club: UL Bohemian RFC.

Munster Caps: 22.

Ireland Caps: 41.

Profession: Guard.

Favourite Food: White Chicken & Cabbage!

Book you are currently reading or have just finished: The Sports Gene – David Epstein.

Favourite TV programme: Match of the Day/Suits.

Favourite Film: The Blind Side/Finding Nemo.

Favourite Actor/Actress: Matt Damon/Sandra Bullock.

Most enjoyable holiday location: I’ve only been on holidays abroad once to Spain and it was grand but love Woodstown and Dunmore East in Co. Waterford.

Marooned on a desert island what could you not be without: My Phone.

Favourite sport other than rugby: Hurling/Gaelic Football.

The sport you least like: I love them all!!!!! If I had to pick….Horse Racing, I just don’t get it!!

Person you would most like to meet: Brian O’Driscoll – cannot believe I’ve never met him!!!!!

Sportsperson you admire most: Katie Taylor – Changed the face of women’s sport in Ireland and still doesn’t get enough recognition.

Hobbies: Watching sport/meeting friends and going to the cinema.

Where and when did you first play rugby: Dungarvan RFC in 2007.

Biggest influence on career: My Dad, Fiona Steed (former Ireland international) and most importantly Kate McCarthy who was my Team Manager with the Munster Under 21s and pushed me all the way.

Best career advice you were given: Most important thing is to enjoy it.

Best advice you would give yourself: You can always give more!

What you like most/least about being a rugby player: Love that I’ve made the best friends ever, hate that people who have never seen women play automatically think it’s of a bad standard.

Other sports that you played: Ladies Gaelic Football, Camogie, Soccer and Athletics.

Best rugby memory: Winning my first Interprovincial with Munster and winning the Grand Slam with Ireland.

Rugby player you admire most: Brian O’Driscoll/Dan Carter.

Rugby team you admire most: New Zealand.

Sporting event you would most like to attend: Waterford Hurling in Croke Park on All-Ireland Final Day (can live in hope!)

If you weren't a rugby player what would you be: Never Injured!!

How would you like to pass away the time on tour in between training: Listening to Allison Miller and Gillian Burke!

Three people you would invite to dinner and why: John Wooden – love his books and podcasts! Graham Norton – love his show and Amy Huberman – could introduce me to Brian!

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

TG4 have confirmed they are to broadcast Ireland's pool games live as well as both semi-finals and finals. 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

Ireland players Niamh Briggs (right), captain Fiona Coughlan (centre) and Lynne Cantwell (left) pictured at the 2013 RTE Sports Awards following their Grand Slam success.