Ballina sisters make their mark

Ballina sisters make their mark


Rob Murphy

THE ever-increasing popularity of women’s rugby in Ireland is having a hugely positive impact on playing numbers across the country, including here in Mayo. The prime example came last weekend with Mairéad and Kayleigh Hopkins making some history for their club in Ballina by wearing the green of Ireland at the FIRA Under-18s Sevens Championships.
The sisters were part of the Irish squad that travelled to Sweden for the European Championships, winning the Plate competition, meant they secured a fifth-place finish overall.
The Sevens game is seen as a particularly important development grade in women’s rugby and has helped produce a number of top internationals in the current Irish senior squad that finished fourth at this summer’s World Cup.
The other important element to Women’s 7s rugby is its inclusion in the Olympics from 2015 onwards. The IRFU women’s rugby board have recognised this as a vital component in helping the game grow in Ireland and many young stars like Mairéad and Kayleigh will be dreaming of advancing to that level for 2019 and beyond.
For now though, the game is growing in Mayo. Ballina and Westport have made great strides in underage development over the past decade and the fruits of their effort are clear to see. Claremorris are also putting in strong work at those grades, while Castlebar are the leading lights at senior level with a very successful squad in place now for a third season and looking for more success.