Keane’s girls ready to take on stars of the Six Nations
The Women’s Inter-provincial campaign opens on the first weekend of September and for a clutch of Connacht’s finest it will be the culmination of three months’ work.
Ninety-minute Wednesdays, four-hour Saturdays, independent gym sessions and Monday cardio and conditioning blasts. That said, the first weekend in September is only the start of it.
As in past years, Connacht again draws several women from beyond the five counties. Tralee, Portlaoise, Dublin and Tullamore all feature in this year’s training squad with Sligo, Tuam, Castlebar, Buccaneers, NUIG and Galwegians.
And while manager Ann-Marie Keane boasts a Mayo bloodline, her coach colleagues Luke O’Donnell and George Naoupu hail from further afield.
Naoupu played his first senior club rugby for High School Old Boys in Christchurch, New Zealand; and O’Donnell a couple of hundred metres away for Marist-Albion. Each has tasted All-Ireland Cup championship success with Galwegians (2012 and 2014) and combine for the first time seeking to share title honours among Connacht’s other clubs too. For the full story click on this link http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-rugby/keanes-girls-ready-to-take-on-stars-of-the-six-nations-30546063.html#sthash.9gTkoB9B.dpuf