Welcome to Ballymena RFC @ Eaton Park – Est 1887

WOMENS

Fixtures, Results, Match Reports, Tables, Squad List and more.

WOMENS

The Ballymena Rugby Women & Girls’ Section was set up in September 2016. Since then it has become a thriving inclusive Section with over 130 girls as members.

All of our coaches have successfully completed either Stages 1-3 or the Youth Coach course, organised by Ulster Rugby.  The coaches are all Access NI cleared and have attended all mandatory courses required by Ulster Rugby such as Safeguarding. 

The success of the female section is undoubtedly due to the hard work, support and efforts of our coaching team, committee, volunteers, players and parents. 

A big thank you must also go to Ballymena RFC for all their support, guidance and encouragement. 

New players are always welcome.  For anyone interested regardless of playing experience or age, please feel free to contact :-

Convenor Áine Fraser on 07809761028. 

You can always keep up to date with the female section by liking Ballymena RFC on social media.

Senior Womens

U16, U18 & Senior Womens

Wednesdays – 7.00 – 8.30pm

Junior Womens

U12s & U14

Wednesdays – 6.45- 8.15pm

Minis

Mini Rugby

Wednesdays – 6.30-7.30pm

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SENIOR WOMENS


Ballymena RFC – Female Sections U16, U18 and Senior Womens

Training times:-

Wednesdays – 7.00 – 8.30pm

In addition to the growing Minis, U12 and U14 sections, Ballymena RFC is also home to teams at U16, U18 and Senior Women.  We have grown in numbers over the last few seasons, and it is heartening to see the great numbers we have out training each Wednesday night. 

Going forward our aim is to continue to grow in numbers to provide a pathway for our players from mini to senior level as well as to have greater player representation at provincial and international level whether it is 15 aside or 7s. 

 

Training will consist of senior player led warm up, followed by drills and skill work in their respective age groups, all under the careful guidance and instruction of our dedicated coaching teams.  The skills are all taught in a controlled way ensuring each player has a good understanding of what is expected of them as well as how to carry out the skill/drill safely.  Each player will work at a level they are comfortable with before progressing.  

In addition to the weekly training sessions, players can also avail of the excellent gym facilities at Ballymena RFC.  Each player will have their own individual training programme set by our Head Coach, Mark Hermin. Prior to this, all players will be required to attend and complete an induction session to show competence in the use of gym equipment as well as in the execution of the various exercises. 

 

 

So, what does the season look like for these age group: 

 

U16 & U18 League 

Competitive matches for U16 and U18 will take the form of bi weekly matches as we are now entered into a newly established Ulster League and Cup Competition, so much to play for following on from the success of last years’ U16s where they took the title of Super Series Winners in the Shield Competition.  During the league competition, matches will involve contact and are usually played as 15 aside. 

 

Senior League 

Our senior team will also play in the Conference Section of the Ulster League.  This will also involve bi-weekly matches and marks a very significant turning point in the growth of female rugby at Ballymena RFC as this will be our first season within a league structure.  Our Senior team did however end 2021-22 season with a series of games against Banbridge and Rainey in a Friday Night Lights Competition, held at Ballymena, where our senior team emerged as the eventual winners so hopefully success will continue as we enter the Conference League. 

 

Player Development 

 

Player development at these age groups will not only be club led, but also Ulster led.  Ulster Rugby will host a series of workshops for players and coaches, focusing on various aspects of the game such as line outs, scrums or kicking, to name but a few.  In addition to this Ulster Rugby will also hold sessions for Talent ID, giving the selected players the opportunity to enter a ‘Player Pathway’ in the hope of representing Ulster in provincial matches.  Currently Ballymena RFC have 5 players on the Pathway at U16 and U18 level with these players having had the opportunity to play 7s as well as 15 aside rugby at Provincial Level. 

 

These are undoubtedly exciting times for female rugby at Ballymena RFC as we continue to grow and develop as well as raising our profile within the Ulster set up. 

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COACHES

MARK HERMIN

MARK HERMIN

HEAD COACH

KIRSTY HILL

KIRSTY HILL

COACH

TONY BREEN

TONY BREEN

COACH

RYAN MOORE

RYAN MOORE

COACH

FRANCIS (CHIP) DOUTHART

FRANCIS (CHIP) DOUTHART

COACH

SOPHIE WATT

SOPHIE WATT

COACH

U12 & U14s


Ballymena RFC – Female Sections U12 & U14 and Senior Womens

Training times:-

Wednesdays 6.45 – 8.15pm

Our aim in the U12s and U14s Girls’ Section is to build on the skills they have learnt if they were part of the Girls’ Minis Section but also to encourage girls of this age group to come along and learn a team sport designed for all girls, make new friends and have fun learning the sport of rugby.

When the girls progress up to our section from the minis we start with basic passing, attacking and defence formation including ruck defence. They initially train with no contact and we gradually introduce contact to the girls at this level of rugby. There is a safe progression from touch rugby to full contact.

We include many fun drills during a training session including games of touch progressing into tackle touch.

Our U12 girls have enjoyed numerous ‘Let’s Play’ Events across the province and our U14 girls have participated in the new U14s League. We plan to continue to get both age groups out to participate in these events and leagues and get to experience the fun involved in playing matches and using all they have learnt and practiced in training as well as making new friends in all the other clubs participating across Ulster in the coming season.

These are great days out and it gets the girls essential game time and experience as they prepare to progress up to the senior end of the section.

Local clubs also invite us down to their club to have a training match which is always a great session and fun to be involved in.

We welcome all new members to our age grade, no experience needed. If you’d like to come along and give rugby a try contact, our Convenor Áine Fraser or the Women & Girls’ Sections Head Coach Mark Hermin for more details.

 

 

COACHES

STEVEN SLOAN

STEVEN SLOAN

HEAD COACH

MARK McBURNEY

MARK McBURNEY

COACH

SOPHIE FRENCH

SOPHIE FRENCH

COACH

RODNEY HALL

RODNEY HALL

COACH

STEPHEN MURRAY

STEPHEN MURRAY

COACH

MINIS


Ballymena RFC – Girls’ Mini Section

Training times:-

Wednesdays 6.30 – 7.30pm

The Ggbnt Ulster at the Ireland v Wales Women’s International  in Dublin in November 2019 where they were part of the guard of honour for the players as they came on the pitch. They also got to play a small game during half time with girls from Munster, Leinster and Connaught. It was an amazing experience for our girls!

If your daughter would like to give mini rugby a try we’d love to have her come along and join the fun. Please contact Áine for any details.

 

 

COACHES

ÁINE FRASER

ÁINE FRASER

CONVENOR/COACH

STEVEN McKAY

STEVEN McKAY

COACH

ANDREW DIXON

ANDREW DIXON

COACH

ELAINE BOYD

ELAINE BOYD

COACH

CATHERINE SHAW

CATHERINE SHAW

COACH

KATY HOOD

KATY HOOD

COACH

AMANDA ROSS

AMANDA ROSS

HEAD SCALLYWAGS COACH

HOLLIE WEIR

HOLLIE WEIR

SENIOR PLAYER

JILLIAN JONES

JILLIAN JONES

SCALLYWAGS COACH

AUDREY LAMONT

AUDREY LAMONT

COACH

NAOMI FOSTER

NAOMI FOSTER

SCALLYWAGS COACH

CIARA FRASER

CIARA FRASER

SENIOR PLAYER

AGNES STEWART

AGNES STEWART

SCALLYWAGS COACH

LOUISE LYNN

LOUISE LYNN

COACH

DEBBIE IRVINE

DEBBIE IRVINE

SCALLYWAGS COACH

FIXTURES & RESULTS

WOMENS - 2023/24

TeamDateTimeOpponentsVenueCompResForAgstReport
WOMENS10/9/23QUB2loss1224
WOMENS17/9/232:30Clougher ValleyAway
WOMENS1 Oct 20232:30North Downhomewin4010
WOMENS8 Oct 20232:30PortadownAwaywin2719
WOMENS22 Oct 2023VirginiaAwayloss2060
WOMENS4 Nov 20223LurganAwayWin2712
WOMENS
WOMENS
WOMENS

Womens U18 - 2023/24

TeamDateTimeOpponentsVenueCompResForAgstReport
Women U1819/09/202312:00lets play eventHome
Women U1822/09/2023lets play eventBanbridge
Women U1822/10/202313:00Limavady/Inishowen/CoDHomeleagueloss3352
Women U1805/11/202312:30Ards/Hinch/Cooke/Banbridge/DonaghadeeAwayloss1046
Women U18
Women U18
Women U18
Women U18
Women U18
Women U18
Women U18
Women U18
Women U18
Women U18
Women U18
Women U18
Women U18

WOMENS U16 - 2023/24

TeamDateTimeOpponentsVenueCompResForAgstReport
Women U1617 Sept12:00lets play eventHome
Women U1622 Septlets play eventBanbridge
Women U1622 Oct13:00Ballymoney/ColeraineBallymoneyleaguewin387
Women U165 Nov12:15MaloneAwaywin4529
Women U16
Women U16
Women U16
Women U16
Women U16
Women U16
Women U16
Women U16
Women U16
Women U16
Women U16
Women U16
Women U16

WOMENS U14 - 2023/24

TeamDateTimeOpponentsVenueCompResForAgstReport
Women U1417/09/202312:00lets play eventHome
Women U1422/09/2023lets play eventBanbridge
Women U1422/10/202313:00BallymoneyBallymoneyleagueloss536
Women U1404/11/202312:30Malone/Larne/Ophir/Civil ServiceHomewin410
Women U14
Women U14
Women U14
Women U14
Women U14
Women U14
Women U14
Women U14
Women U14
Women U14
Women U14
Women U14
Women U14

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