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Sophie<br />
Barrett<br />
Sophie Barrett began her rugby career at<br />
Enniskillen RFC when she was a child, and<br />
from there has achieved being part of our<br />
Senior Women’s team and most recently<br />
has won the Celtic Challenge 23/24 with<br />
her Wolfhounds teammates. We chatted<br />
to her about her local club and her origins.<br />
What does your club mean to you?<br />
Enniskillen is where I started my whole<br />
rugby journey. I feel like it has been a<br />
massive part of my life. I went through<br />
minis, to youth, to senior and the set up<br />
Enniskillen have really brings players on<br />
- the coaches there are exceptional. The<br />
likes of Jimmy Moore has been integral<br />
to my rugby career, he has been with me<br />
since I was 14 and taught me all the basic<br />
skills and all the coaches there have really<br />
put rugby at the centre of my life.<br />
How has being part of a club helped you<br />
on your rugby journey?<br />
Playing in a club, you get to play games,<br />
travel around the country, it really brings<br />
you on as a person. It has really helped me<br />
develop my skills, and I think having that<br />
exposure to a lot of game time has really<br />
helped me reach a higher level. It has also<br />
given me friends for life.<br />
Ireland such as Claire Boles, Catherine<br />
Dane and India Daley. They’ve all got so<br />
far and it’s such an amazing inspiration to<br />
see players from my club that have gone<br />
so far. It shows me I can do that too.<br />
What is your favourite club memory?<br />
Winning the <strong>Ulster</strong> Cup was a big thing<br />
for me. We won U15, and we won U18 last<br />
year and both those wins are probably my<br />
favourite memories.<br />
Who was pivotal in your rugby journey at<br />
your club?<br />
There’s actually a few. As I said, Jimmy<br />
Moore has been with me throughout my<br />
whole rugby journey. Rodney Balfour in<br />
the senior ladies has been an amazing<br />
coach as well, and he thinks a lot of the<br />
girls and gets on with everyone. But I<br />
would say all the coaches throughout my<br />
time in Enniskillen have got me to where I<br />
am today.<br />
How vital would you say grassroots clubs<br />
are to the game?<br />
Playing at a club from a young age, it means<br />
a lot to you. Enniskillen is now so important<br />
to me. There has been so many girls that<br />
have played for Enniskillen that have gone<br />
on to play for <strong>Ulster</strong>, and even further to<br />
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