Latest news with #GloucesterHartpury
Irish Examiner
23 minutes ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Emotional Sam Monaghan hungry for World Cup opportunity after injury
There is no good time to suffer an ACL injury. Sam Monaghan suffered hers last June when starting for Gloucester Hartpury in the Premiership Women's Rugby final: forced off just 18 minutes into her club's defining game of the season. Add in calf and hamstring issues and a full campaign has been laid waste since, Ireland going on to enjoy a breakout experience at the WXV1s tournament in Canada where they beat the world champions New Zealand, and then clocking in for a Six Nations off the back of it. If there's one thing to be thankful for then it's the fact that the long road back to fitness has been completed just as a World Cup swings around. Monaghan will return to a green jersey for Saturday's warm-up against Scotland in Cork. Her first Test in 15 months. 'It was really emotional seeing my name on the teamsheet again, not only for me but for my family, teammates, everyone who's been on the journey with me: physios, S&Cs. It's been a long road, a lot longer than I thought it would be. 'Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel was very special but it's given me chances. I missed out on the Six Nations but I got the chance to sit out in the crowd, so I got to be part of that and see how powerful the girls' performances are on the pitch. 'Hopefully I can add value on Saturday after what they've built over the last couple of years. It's been a great year for us. Yeah, we didn't finish the Six Nations the way we wanted but I feel like we've had a really strong pre-season and we're really excited for Saturday.' Read More Kiripati and McGillivray set for debuts as Bemand names Ireland side for Scotland clash Monaghan isn't the only player returning in the nick of time. Beibhinn Parsons, for example, starts at the weekend having suffered another leg break back in December. Others have been stricken at the worst possible moment. The knee injury Erin King suffered against England in the Six Nations ended her World Cup ambitions there and then. Dorothy Wall's plans went the same way that same month when she was helped off against Scotland with what turned out to be an Achilles injury. Both are big performers in Scott Bemand's Ireland pack and they will be missed on the park in England in August and September. The collective consequences are one thing, for the players themselves it is a disorientating blow. King has spoken about the unfairness of it all. Wall described herself at the time as devastated. 'Injuries are always so tough,' said Monaghan. 'We've such a strong connection as a group so when we lose someone we really feel it, on and off the pitch they are such big characters. But they are both working extremely hard and I know how tough a journey it can be. 'After coming out of a long injury myself I am really gutted for them but I've no doubt they'll come back stronger. High level sport… It's given the opportunity for someone else to come in and we've had other girls come in and put their hand up and really perform.' Read More London game is Ireland's calling for World Cup bid Monaghan returns to the second row as captain for this game in Virgin Media Park, and to a team balancing experience and youth with Ivana Kiripati in the back row and Nancy McGillivray in the centre making their debuts. Ailish Quinn, fresh off her Leaving Cert, should do the same off the bench. The skipper knows what's required. 'It's about empowering those girls to do what they've been doing in preseason and giving them the ability to do it on the pitch on Saturday.' Everyone will have their motivations, not least in the second row where Monaghan's partner, Eimear Corri-Fallon, is another of those stepping back onto the field for a competitive game after a long period spent in casualty and recovery. 'You build up a hunger,' said Monaghan. 'It's kind of like you've been starving for the last 13 months and you finally get your opportunity. I'm sure I'll really savour every moment and just want to do the best I can for the squad around me.'
Irish Examiner
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Ireland's Sam Monaghan 'really emotional' as injury nightmare finally behind her
There is no good time to suffer an ACL injury. Sam Monaghan suffered hers last June when starting for Gloucester Hartpury in the Premiership Women's Rugby final: forced off just 18 minutes into her club's defining game of the season. A full season has been laid waste since, Ireland going on to enjoy a breakout experience at the WXV1s tournament in Canada where they beat the world champions New Zealand and then a Six Nations off the back of it. But if there's one thing to be thankful for then it's the fact that the long road back to fitness has been completed just as a World Cup comes around. Monaghan will return to a green jersey for Saturday's warm-up against Scotland in Cork. 'It was really emotional seeing my name on the teamsheet again, not only for me but for my family, teammates, everyone who's been on the journey with me: physios, S&Cs. It's been a long road, a lot longer than I thought it would be. 'Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel was very special but it's given me chances. I missed out on the Six Nations but I got the chance to sit out in the crowd, so I got to be part of that and see how powerful the girls' performances are on the pitch. 'Hopefully I can add value on Saturday after what they've built over the last couple of years. It's been a great year for us. Yeah, we didn't finish the Six Nations the way we wanted but I feel like we've had a really strong pre-season and we're really excited for Saturday.' Others have been stricken at the worst possible moment. The knee injury Erin King suffered against England in the Six Nations ended her World Cup ambitions. Dorothy Wall's went the same way that same month when she was helped off against Scotland with what turned out to be an Achilles injury. Both are big performers in Scott Bemand's Ireland pack and they will be missed on the park in England in August and September. The collective consequences are one thing, for the players themselves it is a pummelling blow. King has spoken about the unfairness of it all. Wall described herself at the time as devastated. 'Injuries are always so tough,' said Monaghan. 'We've such a strong connection as a group so when we lose someone we really feel it, on and off the pitch they are such big characters. But they are both working extremely hard and I know how tough a journey it can be. 'After coming out of a long injury myself I am really gutted for them but I've no doubt they'll come back stronger. High level sport… It's given the opportunity for someone else to come in and we've had other girls come in and put their hand up and really perform.' Monaghan returns to the second row as captain for this game in Virgin Media Park. It's a team balancing experience and youth with Ivana Kiripati in the back row and Nancy McGillivray in the centre making debuts. Ailish Quinn should do the same off the bench. The skipper knows what's required. 'You kind of have to try and put yourself in their shoes, and cast your mind back to your first cap and how you felt. There's such an amazing group here, and there's so many leaders that we empower each other. 'And we really pick each other up and put an arm around one another. It's about empowering them girls to do what they've been doing in preseason and giving them the ability to do it on the pitch on Saturday.'
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
BBC expand Premiership Women's Rugby coverage
BBC Sport will expand its women's rugby union coverage with a new deal to broadcast Premiership Women's Rugby matches for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 seasons. A match will be streamed every week, with one semi-final and the final being shown live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app. In May, Gloucester-Hartpury beat Saracens at StoneX Stadium to win their third PWR title in a row. Next month England host the Women's Rugby World Cup, with John Mitchell's side the favourites to win the tournament. BBC Sport have confirmed exclusive rights to broadcast every game of the tournament. Select matches will be shown on the BBC's linear channels, while every game will be available to watch live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app. BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra will also broadcast radio commentary on the tournament. Sunderland's Stadium of Light will host the opening game 22 August, while Twickenham will stage the final on 27 September. "This deal is another big step in BBC Sport's commitment to women's sport," said BBC head of sport Alex Kay-Jelski. "Premiership Women's Rugby is fast, physical and full of elite talent, and we're proud to bring that to audiences across the UK on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app. "With the Women's Rugby World Cup exclusively on the BBC this summer, 2025 is a landmark year for women's sport, and we're right at the heart of it." In 2023, English rugby union's top-tier women's domestic league was rebranded as Premiership Women's Rugby and it has continued to grow. The nine-team league includes some of the sport's biggest stars, including World Rugby's women's player of the year Ellie Kildunne, who plays at full-back for Harlequins and England. The league contains all of Mitchell's Red Roses, but also includes oversea stars such as Canada and Saracens number eight Sophie de Goede, with social media sensation Ilona Maher featuring last season on a short-term deal with Bristol Bears. "Today marks another important step forward for Premiership Women's Rugby," PWR executive chair Genevieve Shore added. "In partnership with the BBC we intend to give our incredible athletes the biggest platform possible, to show off the elite rugby talent that exists in this country. "The Rugby World Cup later this year will be a breakthrough moment in our sport, but the story won't end there. "The world's best players play their rugby every week in the PWR, and I am excited to say that now they'll also be shown every week on the BBC." BBC Sport to show 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup World Cup 2025 final in line for record crowd
BBC News
21-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
My body wanted me to rest - Tuipulotu now raring to go
Women's two-Test series: Australia v WalesVenue: Ballymore, Brisbane Date: Saturday, 26 July Kick-off: 05:00 BSTCoverage: Watch on BBC Sport online and BBC iPlayer, listen on Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and BBC Sounds Wales prop Sisilia Tuipulotu says she is a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and is now raring to go on her return to 21-year-old missed the end of Gloucester-Hartpury's title winning season with a hamstring was also sidelined for the Women's Six Nations, swapping the scrum for pundit mics and DJ decks while recovering from surgery."It was the first big injury I've ever had, it was a big struggle," said Tuipulotu."But the girls really helped, they were all there and in return I was there supporting them."I'm a massive believer that anything can happen at any time, I guess my body just wanted me to rest and get back raring to go for the World Cup." Tuipulotu has travelled with the Wales squad to Australia ahead of a two-Test tour against the Wallaroos, starting with Saturday's game in Brisbane."I'm doing everything I can to return to play, I'm as ready as I can be," said the are still looking for a first win under head coach Sean Lynn after five straight Six Nations face an Australian side four places above them in World Rugby's rankings, but Tuipulotu is confident they can be competitive after a brutal pre-season."It's been tough, we've been training in the heat, climbing up sand dunes and going into army camps, but we've got to put our bodies in uncomfortable positions in order to be comfortable in the game," she said."I think it will be a good test before the World Cup, just to see where we are at as a team."We've got to take confidence in all the work that we've done in this pre-season and just go out and be us." On their return to the UK, Lynn's side will have just three weeks to prepare for the World Cup opener against Scotland on 23 is a game that historically has gone down to the wire, with the teams also meeting in the opener of the last World have come out on top in the most recent meetings, but Tuipulotu believes Wales can make it out of Group A, which also contains Canada and Fiji - the latter now coached by Lynn's predecessor Ioan Cunningham. "We're preparing as hard as we can for that first game against Scotland, it's going to be a tough battle between the two," said Tuipulotu."We're always competitive whenever we play against each other, I have full confidence that we can do it."
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Williams signs new Gloucester-Hartpury contract
Wales co-captain Kate Williams has signed a new contract with Premiership Women's Rugby champions 25-year-old flanker has won the league title in both of her seasons since joining the club from Auckland-based Blues in was named Gloucester-Hartpury's players' player of the season last term and scored the opening try as they beat Saracens in the PWR final in has 16 caps for Wales and was this week named co-captain of the national team."I'm incredibly grateful to Gloucester-Hartpury for everything they've done for my career. The past few seasons have been a whirlwind, but I've loved every single minute of it," she told the club's website, external."To be able to do what I love, alongside a group of girls who have truly become my family, is such a privilege - and honestly, you don't need much more motivation than that."Gloucester-Hartpury did not state the length of Williams' contract.
