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Nora answers Ireland’s call
11.02.10
Fahan woman wins first
international rugby cap
by Damian Dowds, Inishowen
Independent
WHILE all eyes may have been on Croke Park for
Ireland’s Six Nations opener with Italy on Saturday,
one local woman was writing her own little piece of
rugby history. Fahan girl Nora Stapleton made her
competitive debut for Ireland women’s team in their
22-5 demolition of Italy on Friday night, becoming
the first Donegal woman to represent Ireland at
international level.
Stapleton is better known locally as a Gaelic
footballer, having lined out for the county for
several years and picking up an Irish Independent/Lucozade
Sport Ladies Player of the Month award in July 2008.
A recent convert to the oval ball game, Stapleton
lined out on the wing (at number 14) for Ireland
against Italy. It has been a rapid rise through the
ranks for the Dublin-based Fahan woman who plays her
club rugby with Old Belvedere in Division 2 of the
All-Ireland League. |
“I’ve always been into
sport and three years ago took up rugby to keep
myself fit when the Gaelic football season ended,”
the 26 year-old said. “2009 was the first year that
I really concentrated on it and I was called up to
the Leinster squad in August. After that, I was
invited to Ireland trials and kept making the cut.”
Friday night was, she admits, |
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a massive step up in
class.
“Italy kicked a lot of ball, especially to my wing,”
the former St Mura’s NS student said. “It was a huge
step up from interprovincial level, and even from
our Ireland training sessions. The game was played
at a much higher tempo and intensity than I’d
previously experienced, but I got lots of
encouragement from my teammates and acquitted myself
quite well.”
After an injury afflicted 2008, Stapleton has
undertaken intensive strength and conditioning
training with the Leinster and now Ireland squads.
“I’ve been doing three weights sessions per week and
I’m really starting to see the benefit of it,” she
says. “I picked up a rib injury in 2008 because I
wasn’t strong enough but the training has helped me
overcome that. It’s helped with recovery too. Even
after Friday’s game I didn’t feel as sore as I used
to from playing at club level.”
Ireland travel to Paris for their next game on
Friday night. While Stapleton hasn’t been named in
the First XV she is in the match 22 and hopes to get
some game time in the Stade des Allees at Blois,
south west of the French capital.
Scotland defeated France in their opener, while
England opened the defence of their Six Nations
title with a comprehensive win over Wales.
“To be honest, I don’t know much about our opponents
and maybe there’s no harm in that as it allows me to
concentrate on my own game,” Stapleton says.
Establishing herself in the Irish squad for the Six
Nations is Nora’s immediate objective, but the big
target for 2010 is securing a place in the squad for
August’s Women’s World Cup which will be held in
England.
“Ireland finished eighth last time and we’re hoping
to improve on that,” she said. “But rugby is a very
technical game and I’m learning all the time. Every
training session is like a college lecture, I pick
up so much from them.” |
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