Robyn O’Connor
A memorable week got even better for two of Wexford’s brightest young rugby prospects on Thursday, when head coach Scott Bemand named his 35-player Ireland women’s XV squad for next month’s clash with Australia in Belfast.
Robyn O’Connor of Wexford Wanderers has stepped up from the Under-20 international set-up to earn a first senior call-up, having been selected for a IRFU Central Contract earlier in the week.
Meanwhile, Enniscorthy’s Katie Whelan – now playing at club level with Old Belvedere – will also be hoping to earn her first Test cap after also featuring on the list of 37 players awarded Central Contracts.
The pair are joined on the international squad by Aoife Wafer of Blackrock College and Leinster, who already has seven caps to her name and left a lasting impression on the Six Nations earlier in the year.
Unfortunately, Natasja Behan misses out on this occasion owing to injury, having earned a Central Contract too along with Wafer, O’Connor, Whelan and Kate Farrell-McCabe.
Dublin-born Farrell-McCabe moved to Ballyoughter with her family as an infant, and she went on to serve the Gorey club with distinction before her move to Suttonians. She has excelled with the Ireland sevens team since making her international debut at that level in 2019.