ULSTER U18 GIRLS 7S SQUAD ANNOUNCED
21 April 2017 14:10pm
By Richard Finlay
Ulster U18 Girls 7s squad
The Ulster U18 Girls 7s squad was named earlier this week. The girls were selected from a larger training squad and will play a series of development blitzes against the three other provinces over the course of the next three weekends. This weekend they travel to Portarlington RFC followed by two trips to Westmanstown.

Ulster Rugby's Female Rugby Officer, Neal Johnston is looking after the squad this season and he had this to say in advance of the blitzes:

"Unfortunately last year's husband and wife coaching team of Aly and Terry Finlay were unable to commit this season so I have been running the sessions. We have a much younger squad than we did last year, with three-quarters of the squad eligible again next season. Indeed, many will eligible for the next two seasons which is fantastic for Aly and Terry, who plan to be back next year.

"This season I have two key priorities for the tournaments; that the players enjoy the experience and that they develop as players.

"I will not be gauging the success of the tournaments by the results in the games provided the above two key priorities are achieved. That said, a few wins along the way would be nice and I have no doubt the girls are capable of doing that.

"I'd like to thank Clogher Valley RFC for allowing us the use of their pitches for training. I'd like to thank the parents for getting the girls to training as I know for some it wasn't a short journey. Thanks also to Charlie Farrell for his help at training. Lastly, I want to thank the girls who trained but didn't make the final squad. I would encourage them to keep working hard and their opportunity will come."

The squad, pictured above, is: Back row (L-R); Lucinda Kinghan (Monaghan RFC), Ellie Rix (Enniskillen RFC), Lucy Turkington (Dungannon RFC), Ciara Byers (Virginia RFC), Ruth Gilsenen (Virginia RFC), Bethany McDowell (Malone RFC), Vicky Graham (Clogher Valley RFC), Kerri McGloin (Magh Ene College), Rachel Magee (Magh Ene College) Front row (L-R); Ella Garland (Monaghan RFC), Amanda McQuade (Virginia RFC), Lisa Mullen (7s Vice Captain, Virginia RFC), Ellie Ingram (Enniskillen RFC, captain), Katie Hetherington (Clogher Valley RFC), Amber Redmond (Virginia RFC)