Leinster vs Vodacom Bulls

huge interest in seeing Emma Tilly, just
one girl. It is a real community club and
the local support is unbelievable.
“As a club, we are seen in a really good
light by Leinster and the other provinces
when we host. It is the ultimate stamp of
approval as a well-organised, well-run
club.
“It is also to give back to our players,
who are making those squads. They can
run out from their home club onto the first
pitch in MU Barnhall in the blue shirt of
Leinster.”
The long-term plan for the club and the
rugby programme, linked to Maynooth
University, is to attract players in. Then,
the position of the club in the men’s and
women’s AIL can make it appealing for
them to stay.
The emergence of women’s rugby has
been a major catalyst for growth.
When Ireland international Eve Higgins
came down to the club to play rugby,
there were no girls minis at that stage, so
she played with the boys.
The latent talent Eve showed prompted
the club to set up a girls youths team to
provide an outlet for her and to see what
others were out there.
When Eve moved away to play with
Railway Union, the club realised it had
to put the pillars in place to do what they
could to prevent it from happening again.
The work has been put in to develop Girls
squads at U-18, U-16 and U-14, some
senior players being drawn back into
coaching.
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 81