Megan O’Connor and Caoilfhionn Conway. Photograph: Natasha Barton.
WOMEN’S rugby in Clare has grown rapidly in recent years, Megan O’Connor’s journey is part of that story.
Once limited by a lack of teams in her area, the Shannon native now lines out with Ennis RFC as they prepare for their first Energia All Ireland League (AIL) campaign.
Megan’s initial interest in joining rugby came from an absence of sport during the winter and the desire to be active year-round. “There’s nothing on during winter and I wanted to do something to keep me going. I was only young but I knew that sport is something that I love. And I just wanted to keep going and keep going,” she explained.
Like a lot of girls on her team rugby was not Megan’s first sport. She grew up playing camogie and football for Wolfe Tones. She first took up rugby at the age of 12. Encouraged by her Dad to try a new sport while taking a break from camogie Megan started training with the U12 boys team in St Senan’s RFC in Shannon.
That first spell was short-lived. Once she aged out of the U12 group, Megan could no longer train with the boys, and with no girls’ rugby in Clare at the time, her rugby journey came to an abrupt pause.
Megan picked the rugby ball back up in 2023 when Ennis RFC were recruiting for the Ennis/Kilrush ladies team, which had been formed in 2021. The team, a joint venture between the two clubs, gave local players the chance to compete and develop together. Now, as they move into the AIL Megan and her team mates will represent Ennis RFC in the national league.
Even though rugby has become her main focus she continues to play football and camogie. Even though GAA and rugby usually run opposite to each other, there are periods when they overlap. Megan explains that it can be hard to balance the training load between all three sports and she often has to choose between them however Rugby usually wins out. “They do clash at times, especially during the league. I have to pick a day where I have to go to this. I have to pick camogie or football or rugby and the majority of the time I do pick rugby. I do love the girls here and I love the training. And I know I will pick a rugby match over a camogie or football match”.
Since starting with the Ennis/Kilrush team two years ago Megan has seen the club develop and grow at an exponential rate. Starting out in Division 2 two years ago, Megan has seen the team complete a league and cup double two years in a row and secure themselves a place in the upcoming AIL competition.
Megan attributes the team’s rapid success to the team and the support of the community around them.
Going into Saturday’s match in Tullow, Megan is expecting a big step up in physicality. She said playing new teams will be a challenge as she does not know what to expect from the opposition. “I know physicality will be a main jump for us. Coming from playing the same four teams every second weekend, to now playing every against girls who have been playing AIL since they were a teen. I think we will do really well. On the strength side of it. But we know it will still be a challenge at the same time”.
Beyond having the opportunity to play in the top division Megan says that the promotion is a huge boost to the club and the community. She explained that the success of the team has helped make rugby more visible and accessible Clare showing younger girls that “rugby is an option.”
Speaking about the support she has seen from the community Megan says; “It is amazing. Even when I am at work now I have people coming up saying ‘We saw your match report’. It is so weird. People acknowledging that we are winning matches. They know who we are”.
Megan says that she is grateful to local media channels supporting the team’s achievements and promoting the club; “It’s amazing how they are putting our name out there. Showing exactly what we can do. How they promote us as women. And promote the whole team. It is amazing”.
