The Ulster Women’s SNR team are gearing up this week to take on a star studded Munster team that has been there or there abouts in taking on Leinster women in recent seasons. The quality however of the Ulster girls is plain to see. Several of the team have played extensively in the Six Nations and Grand slam winning sytems that have been developed over the past few years and adding to that a roll call of players such as Claire Mclaughlin, Gemma McCutcheon, the up coming Peita McAllister and of course a player who is steadily building a superb reputation in rugby circles Gemma Jackson, but thats only a few of the talented squad that coach Jonathan Gillespie has assembled (named below).
The approach has been very much training and practice, fitness training, 60 minutes x 2 x 4 twice a week, hours on Saturdays, personal training and nutrition regimes, followed by more practice, by more training…… and more
The squad hails from the four corners of Ulster representing some 13 womens teams and exile talent is emerging in the squad.
The history of the meetings between Ulster & Munster over the past few seasons has been one in which the smallest of margins has separated the sides and with the promise from the IRFU of extensive further investment in the Womens game the emergence of Ulster as a force within Irish Womens rugby will come down to narrowing that gap and finding those small margins through development and small steps. But nothings changed there, its always small margins and coach Jonathan Gillespie knows that the quality of players on the pitch is just waiting to emerge, and be patient and apply the principles of strong defence, concentrating on re-organising and implementing the tackles and attacks.
2014 SQUAD:
Aimee Ellis (Carrick), Alanagh Chipperfield (Belfast Harlequins),
Beth Cregan (Cooke), Cheryl Laverty (Finn Valley),
Claire Johnston (Malone/Cooke), Claire McLaughlin,
Colette Broome (both Queen’s University), Danika Doherty (Ballyshannon),
Emma Jordan (Queen’s University), Emma Rea (Cooke),
Erin Caughey (Malone), Gemma McCutcheon (Queen’s University),
Grace Cole (Queen’s), Hannah Kilgore (Cooke), Ilse Van Staden (Belfast Harlequins),
Imogen Porter, Janine Mullan, Jemma Jackson (all Queen’s University),
Joanne McCormack (Donegal Town), Julie Simpson (City of Derry),
Kathryn Dane (Enniskillen), Kelly Gormley (City of Derry),
Laura Johnston (Cooke), Lauren Maginnes (Queen’s University),
Lesley Megarity (Belfast Harlequins), Lizzie Ballentine,
Nikita Armstrong (both Cooke), Noreen Nethercott (Enniskillen),
Peita McAlister (Queen’s University), Rebecca Smyth,
Robyn Catterall (both Belfast Harlequins), Sabrina Higgins (Carrick),
Shannon Heapes (Finn Valley), Shirelle Wilson (Cooke),
Sorcha Chipperfield (Belfast Harlequins), Stacey Sloan (City of Derry),
Steffi Clarke (Queen’s University), Teah Maguire (Cooke),
Vicky Irwin (Ormskirk), Zoe Cooke (Bangor),
Zoe Templeton (Belfast Harlequins), Leona Hallett (Enniskillen).
2014 INTERPRO FIXTURES:
Ulster v Munster
Saturday 6th September, 3.00pm, Kingspan Stadium
Connacht v Ulster
Saturday 13th September, 2.00pm, Sportsground
Leinster v Ulster
Saturday 20th September, 2.00pm, Ashbourne RFC
