My rugby journey started seven years ago. I was eleven years old at St Edmund's primary school and I put my name down to participate in every sport available. I signed myself up for Tag Rugby which was coached by Enfield Ignatians winger Hadee Fayaz. Hadee and my P.E. teacher who was also involved with Ignatians, Wesley Silva, saw my love for the game and how I was a little too heavy handed for Tag Rugby. This is when they invited me down to join the girls section at Enfield.

The girls section started off with about eight girls. We were all different ages but we still managed to train and play games until the girls section grew to how we know it today.

I first got selected for Middlesex County Under 15s in 2020 as a fullback, where my first game I tore my MCL however due to covid I had all of lockdown to recover. I went for trials again for Middlesex Under 18s in 2022 where I got selected at fly half. In 2023, I Captained the Middlesex side into games against Essex and Surrey which was a very proud moment. Due to a successful season with Middlesex in 2023, I attended trials for the Wasps Centre of Excellence, for which I was then selected. I was lucky enough to start on my debut against Harlequins.

The following season, I attended and was successful at trials for both Thames Valley COE and Saracens COE. However, due to the logistics when it came to travel, I decided that Saracens was the best option for me.

In September 2023, I was put forward for trials for Ireland in Oxford . Following the trial, I was invited to attend Ireland’s Under 20 November camp in Dublin and then was invited back for a second camp in January. After attending these training camps, I am hoping to hear from them in relation to the possibility of representing Ireland during the upcoming games in the summer.

I am very grateful for the experiences that rugby has given me so far. I am appreciative of the club’s support, especially the supportive coaches that have helped make me the player and the person that I am today. Tom Mann has been one of my coaches for many years. He has played a huge part in my rugby journey through his commitment to the team, consistent belief in me and helpful feedback which helps me strive to improve.

Niamh - January 2024