Women’s AIL Finals This Weekend

The All Ireland league finals for women’s rugby are being held in Portlaoise this Sunday. Five-in-a-row champions UL Bohemians take on Cork side Highfield, while Navan and Clonmel contest the second division final.

Both Clonmel and Navan have been unbeaten this season and both finished top of their regional sections at the end of the league proper.

Clonmel then hammered Newbridge 41-0 in the semi-final stages while Navan had the narrowest of victories over Waterpark when they won their semi-final 8-7.

Neither were involved in last weekend’s Cup finals day in Malahide and both will be keen to secure their berth in the first division next season.

In the division one final, last week’s beaten Cup finalists Highfield have the unenviable task of attempting to dethrone the league champions since 2002 – UL-Bohemians.

Although Highfield became the first team in the league to beat the Limerick side in over five seasons before Christmas, the odds are firmly stacked against them. They have not been to a league final since 2001 and have never won the title, whereas ‘Bohs have masterminded so many league final wins that they will be hot favourites.

The students will include at least seven full Irish internationals in their team including Irish skipper Sarahjane Belton and Irish vice-captain Fiona Coghlan.

IWRFU Division One and Two League Finals Sunday April 29 at Portlaoise RFC.

Division 2 Final @1pm.

Navan v Clonmel

Division 1 Final @ 3pm.

UL Bohemian v Highfield