A PAULSTOWN lady who has played international rugby for Quatar is hoping to inspire a renaissance of the game in Kilkenny.
And it could all begin tonight (Wednesday) at Foulkstown rugby club.
A stint in the Middle East coincided with Helen Donegan's introduction to the oval ball game. If things go according to plan, local ladies will no longer have to leave the county t
o play 15-a-side rugby.
"I was away from Kilkenny for a while. I'm not long home and from the looks of things there hasn't been a local team for a while," Helen said.
Now she wants to mobilise the rugby troops, get the women back playing the game she loves with a passion.
"There are a lot of women around who say they are interested. We are looking to recruit them to add to the dozen or so we have at the moment with a view too establishing a 25 strong panel.
The real thing
"The players come from all over Kilkenny. A good friend of mine from Paulstown, Sheila Kelly, will also be heavily involved on the playing front."
Helen played Sevens rugby in the Middle East, but she felt Kilkenny ladies would be up for the real thing.
"I have played before," she continued. "Sheila hasn't, but I've convinced her to have a go. Rugby can be really enjoyable."
The first training session will be held this evening (Wednesday) at Kilkenny Rugby Club, who have promised to provide proper coaching for the girls if the interest is sufficient to form a team.
"The nearest club for Kilkenny women is Carlow. It is about time there was a local team because there is huge interest in ladies rugby," Helen insisted.
Helen explained that the competitive nature of the sport grabbed her imagination.
Potential is there
"I only took it up in Quatar and I got to play on the international team for a year, which was terrific. It was a great way of meeting other ex-pats. There were Australians, New Zealanders, Irish and British involved.
"While I played Sevens rugby in a Gulf League for Quatar, the 15-a-side game is closer to the real thing."
She felt this could be the one and only chance women in Kilkenny will get in a long team to form their own team.
"The potential is there in the county," Helen insisted. "If, for example, people who played tag rugby and the like are interested in having a go we will help them."
