Navan RFC’s Rosie Searle has earned national recognition with her selection for the Ireland Women’s U20s team, sponsored by PwC. Searle lined out on Saturday (10th May) in the first of two uncapped training matches against Canada U20 at the IRFU High Performance Centre in Abbottstown. These fixtures are part of the build-up to the Six Nations U20 Women’s Summer Series, set to take place in Cardiff, Wales this July.

Searle was named in a 30-player squad by Head Coach Niamh Briggs, who emphasised the importance of giving players the platform to push for final selection. “There’s been a lot of hard work done in training,” said Briggs. “These games are a perfect opportunity for players
to build experience and showcase their skills as we head towards the Summer Series.” Also featured in the matchday squad were former Navan RFC Youths players Jade Gaffney and Emma Brogan, underlining the club’s strong contribution to the national setup. Ireland U20 Women’s Team ( v Canada U20 Women, IRFU HPC, Saturday, 10th May)
15. Caoimhe McCormack (Railway Union/Leinster)
14. Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
13. Sophie Cullen (Galwegians/Leinster)
12. Sarah Purcell (Galwegians/Connacht)
11. Emma Brogan (MU Barnhall/Leinster)
10. Caitriona Finn (UL Bohemian/Munster)
9. May Goulding (Old Albanians/Saracens/IQ Rugby)
1. Grainne Burke (Ennis/Munster)
2. Kelly Burke (MU Barnhall/Leinster)
3. Sophie McAllister (Ballymena/Ulster)
4. Aoibhe O’Flynn (UL Bohemian/Munster)
5. Naoise Smyth (Ashbourne/Suttonians/Leinster)
6. Beibhinn Gleeson (Tuam-Oughterard/Connacht)
7. Ailish Quinn (Galwegians/Connacht)
8. Jane Neill (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Replacements:
16. Jade Gaffney (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
17. Tara O’Neill (Cooke/Ulster)
18. Hannah Scanlon (Railway Union/Leinster)
19. Emma Tilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
20. Lyndsay Clarke (Ennis/Munster)
21. Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
22. Poppy Garvey (Railway Union/Connacht)
23. Niamh Gallagher (Ealing Trailfinders/IQ Rugby)
24. Emily Foley (Galwegians/Connacht)
25. Rosie Searle (Navan/Leinster)
26. Sarah McCormick (Galwegians/Connacht)

27. Méabh Keegan (Railway Union/Leinster)
28. Lily Morris (Ballincollig/Munster)
29. Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen/Ulster)
30. Ella Burns (Tuam-Oughterard/Connacht)

Emma O’Rourke Shines for Leinster at Girls U18 7s Interprovincials

Navan RFC’s Emma O’Rourke on Leinster 7’s duty at the weekend (Photo: Tiernan O’Rourke).

Navan RFC Youths player Emma O’Rourke made her mark on the representative stage on Saturday (10th May), as part of the Leinster Girls U18 7s squad competing in the Interprovincial Series at the IRFU High Performance Centre in Abbottstown. Emma played a key role in an outstanding day for the province, scoring in all three matches as Leinster went unbeaten in the tournament.

The Girls Interprovincial 7s Series forms a key part of the development pathway for young female players and acts as a selection platform for the Ireland U18 Girls 7s squad, ahead of the Rugby Europe U18 Girls 7s Championship this July.