Ireland Under-18 Women Building Nicely For European Sevens

The Ireland Under-18 Women’s Sevens squad won four of their five Home Nations games in Swansea over the weekend, as the build-up continues to the Rugby Europe U-18 Sevens Championship in Poland at the end of the month.

Coached by Ben Martin and current senior international Katie Fitzhenry, the Ireland youngsters gained crucial game-time against international opposition as they lined out against hosts Wales, England and Scotland at Swansea University.

Led by captain and top try scorer Beibhinn Parsons, they went undefeated on day one with wins over Scotland (26-7), England (22-12) and the Welsh (19-10). Listowel’s Meabh McElligott impressed with a try in each game, matching Parsons’ three-try haul during the round-robin phase.

Ireland finished the competition in third place after being pipped by Scotland (19-14) in a tight semi-final on Sunday. However, they made sure they bounced back with a comprehensive 31-14 victory over Wales in their final game, with Parsons chipping in with a brace of tries.

The 17-year-old Ireland skipper scored six tries across the tournament, while the team’s 18-try total included three each from McElligott, Ennis’ Chisom Ugwueru, who was one of four newcomers in the side, and Gorey talent Kate Farrell McCabe who also kicked 12 points.

Assistant coach Fitzhenry said: “Day one was a great all-round team performance with some standout individuals against tough opposition. It set us up well for day two but unfortunately we had a disappointing start on Sunday in losing the semi-final to Scotland.

“But the girls showed great character to finish out the weekend with a five-try win against Wales. It bodes well for the European Championship in Poland in two weeks’ time when they’ll look to build on what they learned over the past two tournaments.”

Across last month’s Paris World Games and the Home Nations in Swansea, the Ireland girls won nine of their eleven matches with 16 players getting the opportunity to press their selection claims for the Rugby European Championship.

Connacht duo Parsons and Grace Browne Moran were part of the Ireland team that won bronze at last year’s Europeans in Vichy. The 2019 tournament takes place in Jarocin on August 31-September 1, with the girls in green drawn in Pool C with Home Nations rivals Scotland, Latvia and Georgia.

IRELAND UNDER-18 WOMEN’S SEVENS Squad (2019 Home Nations Tournament, Swansea University, Wales. Saturday, August 17-Sunday, August 18):

Grace Browne Moran (Westport/Connacht)
Beibhinn Parsons (Ballinasloe/Connacht) (capt)
Ava Ryder (Westport/Connacht)
Ivana Kiripati (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Kate Farrell McCabe (Gorey/Leinster)
Caoimhe O’Callaghan (Dundalk/Leinster)
Amanda McQuade (Virginia/Ulster)
Mya Alcorn (Letterkenny/Ulster)
Lucy Turkington (Dungannon/Ulster)
Méabh McElligott (Listowel/Munster)
Marlise Flynn (Carrick-on-Suir/Munster)
Chisom Ugwueru (Ennis/Munster)

Ireland U-18 Sevens Management –

Head Coach: Ben Martin
Assistant Coach: Katie Fitzhenry
Manager: Elaine Ryan

2019 Home Nations Tournament – Ireland Results:

Saturday, August 17: 

Ireland 26 Scotland 7, Swansea University
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Kate Farrell McCabe 2, Meabh McElligott, Chisom Ugwueru; Cons: Kate Farrell McCabe 3

Team: Grace Browne Moran, Ava Ryder, Mya Alcorn, Beibhinn Parsons (capt), Kate Farrell McCabe, Meabh McElligott, Caoimhe O’Callaghan.

Subs used: Amanda McQuade, Ivana Kiripati, Lucy Turkington, Chisom Ugwueru, Marlise Flynn.

Ireland 22 England 12, Swansea University
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Beibhinn Parsons 2, Lucy Turkington, Meabh McElligott; Con: Lucy Turkington

Team: Ivana Kiripati, Grace Browne Moran, Mya Alcorn, Beibhinn Parsons (capt), Kate Farrell McCabe, Meabh McElligott, Lucy Turkington.

Subs: Marlise Flynn, Caoimhe O’Callaghan, Amanda McQuade, Ava Ryder, Chisom Ugwueru.

Ireland 19 Wales 10, Swansea University
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Meabh McElligott, Chisom Ugwueru, Beibhinn Parsons; Cons: Kate Farrell McCabe, Lucy Turkington

Team: Ava Ryder, Marlise Flynn, Ivana Kiripati, Kate Farrell McCabe, Meabh McElligott, Caoimhe O’Callaghan, Chisom Ugwueru.

Subs used: Amanda McQyade, Lucy Turkington, Beibhinn Parsons (capt), Mya Alcorn.

Sunday, August 18:

Ireland 14 Scotland 19, Swansea University
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Kate Farrell McCabe, Beibhinn Parsons; Cons: Kate Farrell McCabe 2

Team: Ava Ryder, Mya Alcorn, Marlise Flynn, Beibhinn Parsons (capt), Kate Farrell McCabe, Meabh McElligott, Caoimhe O’Callaghan.

Subs used: Ivana Kiripati, Lucy Turkington, Grace Browne Moran.

Ireland 31 Wales 14, Swansea University
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Beibhinn Parsons 2, Chisom Ugwueru, Caoimhe O’Callaghan, Mya Alcorn; Cons: Lucy Turkington 3

Team: Ivana Kiripati, Grace Browne Moran, Amanda McQuade, Beibhinn Parsons (capt), Lucy Turkington, Chisom Ugwueru, Caoimhe O’Callaghan.

Subs used: Mya Alcorn, Kate Farrell McCabe, Ava Ryder, Meabh McElligott.