Rugby (Ladies)

About

NUIG Womens Rugby
Join the NUIG women's rugby team for the new competitive season which kicks off in October. Newcomers are welcome at any time and no previous playing experience is necessary!

History

UCG Rugby Club was established in 1873 and was a founding member of the IRFU in 1874. The womens team was started in 2002 with the arrival of rugby development office Jim Herring. We have now a dedicated player's base from the college with a large international contingent of players, and we continue to welcome new players throughout the season with or without experience.

2004 was a very successful year with the womens team competing in their first official match against Sligo I.T. in February, which ended in a draw. After a long and stressful organisational period the NUIG women hosted one of the most successful intervarsities competitions on the 31st of March in Dangan sports grounds. Eight teams from around the country competed, the most teams to enter the competition at that point. In 2004 and 2005 the UCG Ladies competed for the first time in the I.S.S.A. College's League. This was a major stepping stone for the club, as was the appointment of coach ex Irish international Stephanie Dowling-Folan.

The start of the 2005 season saw the appointment of a new dedicated coaching team consisting of Sinead Cosgrave, Wendy Hickey and Caroline Pryce. Sinead Cosgrave is an ex Irish international and has also represented Connaught and Galwegians along with Wendy Hickey and Caroline Pryce. Wendy Hickey is also a development officer for the IRFU. Sinead Cosgrave continued with the team until 2010, taking a well earned sabbatical having lead them to their first varsity tournament final. Simon Lawless and Darragh Keady took over from Cosgrave the following season, leading the squad to yet another Connacht League Final in March 2011.

Luke O'Donnell joined Simon Lawless to form the 2012 - 2013 coaching team and the duo are keen to coach the side to victory in both the Connacht Women's League and the Intervarsity competition.

Achievements

2010/2011 - Connacht Women's Development League Finalists

2009/2010 - Intervarsity Tournament Finalists; Connacht Women's Development League Finalists

2008/2009 - Connacht Women's Development League Champions

2007/2008 - Connacht Women's Development League Finalists

2006/2007 - College League Finalists (Division 1)

Intervarsities

2012/2013: NUIG will once again compete in Division 1 of the Colleges Rugby League.

2011/2012: NUIG hosted 2012 Intervarsities.