The rugby-dream of Niamh Gallagher, the former Enfield Tiger, continues on an upward trajectory, having taken her from the foothills of local rugby to the fringes of a full international cap for Ireland, writes Jonathan Landi.

As the utility back is one of nine uncapped players drafted into the Emerald Isle’s 36-strong Women’s Six Nations squad – ahead of the away opener against the defending champions, England’s Red Roses, at the Allianz Stadium on 11 April.

The player said: “It’s simply great news although I’ve always taken the view that if it happened, it happened. We have a further three-day training camp planned on 31 March in the run-up to the opener against England.”

Niamh’s progress has been spectacular and her promotion to the full Irish squad is also the reflection of some impressive form shown in the shirt of the Ealing-based Trailfinders team which competes at the highest level, the Women’s Premiership.

The high-octane Trailfinders’ environment – they’re currently battling for a place in the play-offs and currently sitting fourth in a tight league - has clearly enabled the utility back to flourish and take another step up the rugby ladder.

Her display at fullback on Friday evening (March 20) was a case in point, as her ability to pot all three conversions was instrumental in Trailfinders getting one over an Ellie Kildunne-laden Harlequins following a 21-17 win under lights at the Stoop.

She added: “I’ve shared the kicking duties with Rosie Inman and Meg Jones (England international) this season and have scooped two Player of the Match awards – on both occasions when we were up against the Leicester Tigers.”

She has also proved herself something of a firefighter, having rescued her team after successfully potting a conversion, with 90-seconds remaining, in the 26-26 draw against Bristol in February.

Having first got her first taste of the rugby ball as part of St Edmunds Catholic Primary School, (Edmonton) she transitioned to the Enfield Tigers – the girls rugby wing of Enfield Ignatians and very much a fledgling operation at the time – before being capped at county level for Middlesex.

Her rugby journey has also taken in the Wasps Centre of Excellence, the Thames Valley Centre of Excellence, Saracens U18s and Ireland U20s, having sported the Irish green in the 2024 Six Nations U20s Championship in Italy.

Currently studying for a Sports and Exercise Science degree at Brunel University, the level-headed but fiercely determined Niamh has excelled in every rugby challenge so far, and it will fascinating to monitor if she can rise even higher in the weeks ahead.

Photo by courtesy of the Irish Rugby Football Union.