British & Irish Lions
• British & Irish Lions tour Australia in 2013
Ireland Rugby
Irish Women lose out
Running concurrently with the RBS 6 Nations is that of the women’s game as well and the Irish side faced up to their Welsh counterparts on the Final day of play this year.
The game was a tough one and the final score of 13-10 really brings this home. It was a hard fought battle and in the first half the Irish team did not really make their presence felt. There was obviously some inspirational talking during the half time break as the ladies came out guns firing and put in a great second half performance.
Unfortunately their efforts were not enough at the end of the day and they end the tournament in third position. They are to be congratulated as this is the highest position they have achieved since taking part in the tournament.
WALES WOMEN: Naomi Thomas (Bristol Ladies); Non Evans (Cardiff Quins), Clare Flowers (Bristol Ladies), Rachel Poolman (UWIC), Louise Rickard (Woodbridge); Awen Thomas (Cardiff Quins), Laura Prosser (Pontyclun); Hannah Roberts (UWIC), Rhian Bowden (UWIC), Jenny Davies (Waterloo), Gemma Hallett (Pontyclun), Rachel Taylor (Cardiff Quins), Catrina Nicholas (Cardiff Quins), Jamie Kift (Bristol Ladies), Mellissa Berry (Bristol Ladies) (capt).
Replacements: Claire Horgan (Saracens), Catrin Edwards (Cardiff Quins), Louise Horgan (Saracens), Claire Donovan (Saracens), Amy Day (UWIC), Ali Wright (Loughborough/ Lichfield), Aimee Young (UWIC).
IRELAND WOMEN: Niamh Briggs (Clonmel/Munster); Jeannette Feighery (UL Bohemians/Munster), Helen Brosnan (Highfield/Munster), Shannon Houston (Blackrock/Leinster), Lynne Cantwell (UL Bohemians/Munster); Joanne O’Sullivan (Richmond/Ulster), Tania Rosser (Blackrock/Leinster); Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster), Yvonne Nolan (Blackrock/Leinster), Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster), Caroline Mahon (UL Bohemians/Leinster), Orla Brennan (Blackrock/Leinster), Louise Austin (Blackrock/Leinster), Sinead Ryan (Navan/Leinster), Joy Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt).
Replacements: Jess Limbert (Lichfield/Ulster), Lauren Day (Cooke/Ulster), Kate O’Loughlin (Clonmel/Munster), Debbie Clarke (Blackrock/Leinster), Louise Beamish (UL Bohemians/Munster), Laura Nicholl (Cooke/Ulster), Amy Davis (Blackrock/Ulster).
Referee: Clare Daniels (England)