As part of our “We Are Rugby” campaign, Energia is thrilled to shine a light on grassroots clubs around Ireland. This week, the focus is on Longford RFC

Sunday, 19th October was a milestone day for the hard work done in recent years at Longford RFC.

While many in the rugby community were still digesting Leinster’s loss to Munster the night before in Croke Park, Precision Health Park was filled with women and girls lining out for the club.

Six Longford RFC teams from Under-8 up to Seniors lined out on home soil on the same day, for the first time in the club’s long and illustrious history.

Gerry Carthy is the Club Manager, and runs the day-to-day running of the club, both on and off the field. Since women first started representing the club almost 20 years ago, there has been a boom in playing numbers.

“Our first foray into women’s rugby was in 2006, and we’ve had a senior team every year since then. In 2018, we created an Under-14 team, and that team then became an Under-16 team and Under-18 team.”

Despite the initial foray into women’s and girls’ rugby, it has really skyrocketed in the midlands since 2023, Carthy added.

“Two years ago, we created a Minis section, specifically for girls. We realised there was a massive drop for girls when they got to 10, 11 and 12. At younger ages, the mixing of boys and girls was great, but we saw a drop off when the game got more physical. 

“We created an Under-12 girls team specifically in September 2023. The following year, we set up an Under-10 team, and earlier this year we created an Under-8 team, so we completed the pathway from Under-8 up to Senior!”

With increased opportunities for players, there has understandably been an increase in numbers, with the club now having equal pathways for both boys and girls.

“Over the past number of years, the number of girls has skyrocketed in the club. 30% of our playing population now is women and girls. We have over 370 junior players in the club, with over 100 of them being girls. That would have only been a handful in 2014.”

With numbers on the pitch increasing by the week, the club are also seeing the fruit of their labour with provincial and national representation for the first time among female players.

“The pathway is now there to play at the highest level to progress up the line. Three of our Under-18 team have played with Leinster, and Diana Izekor has been capped internationally too.

“By seeing this pathway, we are seeing more girls join the club on a regular basis. Some of our senior players have played in the Women’s Interpros for Leinster and Connacht.”

Despite the name, Longford RFC’s catchment stretches further than the county boundaries. Carthy says they are unique in Ireland with their reach.

“We have players on our books from five counties in three provinces. There are players in south Cavan, west Westmeath, east Leitrim and south and east Roscommon that we are closest to.

“We’re delighted to be a Leinster affiliated club, but we’re proud of all our players who have reached provincial level, whether that be in Leinster, Connacht or Ulster.”

By Carthy’s own admission, the club “were late to the party in developing the women’s and girls’ game, but with the help of the IRFU and Leinster, we feel that there have been some primary drivers behind the girls game at national and local levels.”

With the recent Women’s World Cup, and the stardom of some of Ireland’s international players. Carthy adds it has never been easier to promote the female game, at all levels.

“The Ireland women’s team, and its success, is the best advertisement to get girls into the club. Having the likes of Diana, Mia Rowan and Isabella Larkin in the Leinster Under-18 squad, shows the pathway is there for our players. The exposure the three girls have brought to the club has been invaluable.

“The Give It a Try programme and the Leinster Summer Camps, help get kids into the club. Once we get them in, we hope they are happy with what they see, and are comfortable.

“Our Under-12 girls were lucky enough to play in the RDS at an Ireland-Italy match in the Six Nations. That’s publicity that money can't buy.”

A 4G pitch was opened at the club in 2023, which has helped entice players in, especially during the winter months, with Carthy calling it a “game changer”

“In December, we’ll have 100+ minis on the pitch on a Sunday morning. They won't go home wet or dirty, and they’ll have a smile on their face from their morning. Will they come back next Sunday? Absolutely. If they have to come back, after playing in the muck, would they come back? They’d think twice about it.”

While the club reached full parity earlier this year, with teams on the male and female side, Carthy says the creation of the youngest girls’ team, has proved key to bringing people into the club.

“The creation of the girls’ Under-8 team has already been a tipping point. I was speaking to a mother who brought her three kids at the start of the season. They were new to the game, and her young daughter loves playing, because there is a girls-only team.

Like all grassroots clubs in all sports, Longford RFC rely on volunteers to keep the club thriving both on and off the field.

“Our Chair in the Mini section is Pauline Marlowe, who has done trojan work. The work she has put into mini and girls’ rugby is incredible. She came to the club as a mother, and is still there each weekend!

“If we don't have any volunteers, we wouldn't exist. We did a survey of the volunteers three years ago, and did a head count from the seniors down, and including committee members too. We tallied over 160 volunteers that are actively involved. The vast majority are parents of current or former players, while we also have many volunteers that coach that would not have parental links too.”

While the club continues to move at a rapid pace, what constitutes success for them in 2030? For Carthy, the answer is maintaining and expanding playing numbers.

“Ideally, we want enough players that the coach would know they have enough players to field a 15-a-side team every weekend. You will need 25 to 27 players in each squad to do that. Our Under-18 and Under-16 are very close to that, but we don't have enough yet to give the coach that comfort. The aim is to drive the game to get to that number in the coming years.

“We would also want to see players represent the Midlands in the Sarah Robinson Cup, before moving onto representative provincial level, would give the club massive satisfaction in knowing we played some part in facilitating their route.

“Locally, we want to be perceived as a safe pair of hands. We want to be recognised as a safe and happy environment. Are the parents happy, and are the kids happy? That’s key.”