Women's rugby Athlone

Leinster13

I'm involved with a rugby club in Madrid and one of the female players/coaches is going to spend a year in Athlone tec on an Erasmus. She wants to play rugby while she's there and has been told that the college has a women's team although it has only recently been formed. She was a bit worried that as it is a new team the level might not be that good. Does anyone know what the level of the women's rugby there might be like and are there any other women's teams in the area? Also, what is the general level of rugby like in Athlone tec? Would there be any openings for her to be involved in training any local youth sides? She has experience here with the club under 14s. Any information would be great. Thanks in advance.

ormond lad

Leinster13 wrote: »

I'm involved with a rugby club in Madrid and one of the female players/coaches is going to spend a year in Athlone tec on an Erasmus. She wants to play rugby while she's there and has been told that the college has a women's team although it has only recently been formed. She was a bit worried that as it is a new team the level might not be that good. Does anyone know what the level of the women's rugby there might be like and are there any other women's teams in the area? Also, what is the general level of rugby like in Athlone tec? Would there be any openings for her to be involved in training any local youth sides? She has experience here with the club under 14s. Any information would be great. Thanks in advance.

Buccaneers rfc in Athlone has a womens team. That would be higher standard than the college team
Best off checking their website for info
http://www.buccaneersrfc.com/

Leinster13

Thanks for that info Ormond. I've just checked Buccaneers website and seen that their senior team is in Ulster Bank division 1B. Sorry for my ignorance (been out of Ireland a long time) but what sort of level is that? Is that a division in the All Ireland League? I'd like to be able to tell the girl the level of the club in general. I think she may be possibly exaggerating a bit about getting a good level of rugby at a good club - she is after all playing in Spain! Although women's rugby in Spain isn't that bad actually.

ormond lad wrote: »

Leinster13 wrote: »

I'm involved with a rugby club in Madrid and one of the female players/coaches is going to spend a year in Athlone tec on an Erasmus. She wants to play rugby while she's there and has been told that the college has a women's team although it has only recently been formed. She was a bit worried that as it is a new team the level might not be that good. Does anyone know what the level of the women's rugby there might be like and are there any other women's teams in the area? Also, what is the general level of rugby like in Athlone tec? Would there be any openings for her to be involved in training any local youth sides? She has experience here with the club under 14s. Any information would be great. Thanks in advance.

Buccaneers rfc in Athlone has a womens team. That would be higher standard than the college team
Best off checking their website for info
http://www.buccaneersrfc.com/

ormond lad

Leinster13 wrote: »

Thanks for that info Ormond. I've just checked Buccaneers website and seen that their senior team is in Ulster Bank division 1B. Sorry for my ignorance (been out of Ireland a long time) but what sort of level is that? Is that a division in the All Ireland League? I'd like to be able to tell the girl the level of the club in general. I think she may be possibly exaggerating a bit about getting a good level of rugby at a good club - she is after all playing in Spain! Although women's rugby in Spain isn't that bad actually.

Their mens team is in div1B of the AIL not their womens team who play in a connacht league and to find out more you should contact the club

Leinster13

Yeah I saw it was the men who were in the div1b I just wanted to be able to say that yeah must be a reasonable level in the club in general cos their men are in this type of league. Have since done the intelligent thing and wikipediad the AI league so have what I need to tell her. But thanks again for your help and quick response.

Quote=ormond lad;78969966]

Leinster13 wrote: »

Thanks for that info Ormond. I've just checked Buccaneers website and seen that their senior team is in Ulster Bank division 1B. Sorry for my ignorance (been out of Ireland a long time) but what sort of level is that? Is that a division in the All Ireland League? I'd like to be able to tell the girl the level of the club in general. I think she may be possibly exaggerating a bit about getting a good level of rugby at a good club - she is after all playing in Spain! Although women's rugby in Spain isn't that bad actually.

Their mens team is in div1B of the AIL not their womens team who play in a connacht league and to find out more you should contact the club[/Quote]

boredatwork82

Buccaneers RFC set up a womens team this year.
In their first season they made the Connacht League Final, and won the Connacht Cup. They have an absolutely fantastic attitude, and a good squad. While they are learning, there are some fantastic players who have come over from other sports so the standard is decent and improving. I could be wrong but there is talk at the minute of them moving into the All Ireland League.

I think they were the most successful team in the club last season.
Look for their facebook page and contact them Buccaneers ladies. If you can't find it let me know.

The IT also have a rugby team, but wouldn't be as commited or active as the Buccs team.

boredatwork82

Also the club would bite the hand off anyone willing to give up some time to help coaching - just saw that in a quote up there.

Leinster13

Thanks for all that information - all really helpful - I wanted to be able to give her a good reply.

Leinster12

I think it is important to find out the actual standard of this player. If she is a player who has aspirations and ability to play for Spain, particularly their Sevens squad she should look to play Div 1 AIL rugby. Then the thing is, is she willing to travel, the closest club would be Galwegians RFC, then any of the Dublin clubs and the UL Bohs, who are the AIL champions for the last number of years, with few teams near their standard. It depends what this player wants.

Leinster13

Thanks Leinster12
I think she's a pretty reasonble standard, but not sure about her international aspirations.
Sorry for dumb question - is UL Bohs, University of Limerick?
Thanks
Leinster13

Leinster12

There is a college team which is just Univeristy of Limerick which is just for students but the club team is called University of Limerick Bohemians which have some of the students playing for them but have people not in college too. Not sure how closely the 2 are linked

ormond lad

Leinster13 wrote: »

Sorry for dumb question - is UL Bohs, University of Limerick?
Thanks
Leinster13

Yes, Bohemians rfc and the university combined resources about 12 years ago. Bohs ground is right beside the university.
The UL Bohs club side is very strong and has won quite a few all ireland titles in recent years
There would also be a team just made up of students in the university

rje66

have to agree with all of the above posts. her options are

1. play locally at a lower standard but with much less travelling and prob more social interaction in club

2. play higher and travel to dublin clubs 2hrs, galway 1hr or limerick 1 3/4ish,
and miss out on social scene a bit.

Then again if she is a student .........fuel costs:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: v a social beer:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Sport for Business 2012

The Railway Union Club in Dublin has announced a major commitment to women's rugby, new team, director of rugby and same access to all the facilities as the men's team. They are looking for players at the moment and might be worth a look.