Irish Rugby TV: ‘Smiles All Round’ At #GiveItATry Freshers Festival

A #GiveItATry Festival for Freshers squads gave six third level institutions the chance to play rugby and compete against each other at UCD this afternoon. Dublin University, Queen’s University Belfast, Sligo IT, Ulster University, UCD and Waterford IT took part in the X7s tournament.

X7s is a seven-a-side format played across the width of the pitch with adapted rules for maximum playability. All six teams played 10 minute games against each other. The final game proved to be the trophy decider as hosts UCD beat WIT 4-3. 

“There are so many females that want to give rugby a try and we’re just trying to find more and more ways of providing them with that opportunity,” said Nora Stapleton, the IRFU Women’s and Girls Rugby Development Manager. 

Rachel Whitten is captain of the winning UCD squad. She said afterwards: We’ve only starting playing rugby at the start of September. It’s brilliant to get a bit of a run around, score a few tries, make a few tackles, hit a few rucks. What’s not to love? It’s a great day.”

IRFU #GiveItATry Freshers Festival Teams:

Dublin University: Martha Dwyer, Molly Fitzpatrick, Ellen McGee, Julie Bi Gay, Jemima Owens, Maeve Kelly, Svenja Drexler, Katie Ecock, Krissy Bylanck, Mary Screen, Katie Ellsworth.

Queen’s University: Martina O’Kane, Lydia Montgomery, Hannah Williams, Aisling McMahon, Kirsty King, Sara Edgar, Bronach Cassidy, Étain McAvoy, Katie Hassard, Ruth Hamill, Robyn Maginnis, Helen Laird, Danielle Hargan, Beth Taylor, Callendar McLernon, Keleigh Heeney, Megan Stewart. Manager: Diane Ramsay.

Sligo IT: Lorraine Fulton, Chelsey McPhillips, Michaela Watts, Alexandra Thoene, Kodie Moyles, Holly O’Donnell, Ciara McLeeme. Manager: Michael Gibson.

Ulster University: Nadia Lyons, Leah Magee, Jess Green, Charlotte Knox, Morgan Russell-Cowan, Georgia Davies, Zoe Cheshire, Aveline O’Neill, Molly Fox, Vicki Graham, Juliette Barr. 

UCD: Sadbbh McDonnell, Nikki Kennedy, Meghan Boland, Alex Brown, Anna Potterton, Caitriona Ryan, Aoife O’Boyle, Aine Keogh, Rachel Whitten, Aine Tangney, Shanya Butler, Aoife Friars, Anne Spain, Ellen Corbally, Aisling Williams. Manager: Jack O’Dea.

Waterford IT: Aoibheann O’Neill, Louise Horgan, Louisa Hanrahan Daw, Megan Huddleton, Seana Kane, Jane Emerson, Anja Hirche, Kelly Walsh. Manager: Rebecca O’Reilly.