830 pupils at World Cup blitzes

The Connacht Rugby Club & Community Department recently held four national school blitzes to give schools the opportunity to participate in a fun festival of rugby and promote the upcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Held in four locations across the province, the blitzes were a great success and continued on from the six rugby festivals that took place in March.

The blitzes were non-competitive with the focus being on fun and participation. Donamon Castle, Dunmore RFC, Sligo RFC and Ballinasloe RFC were the four venues as 830 pupils from schools across the province took part.

Connacht Rugby are hugely grateful to all the hosting clubs that supported this initiative and the club support that ensure the events ran smoothly and successfully. Initiatives such as this will hopefully encourage young players to join their local rugby club for the upcoming season and help raise awareness of the World Cup across national school students throughout the province.

A special word of thanks to Dunmore's Keith Corless, Sligo's David Cawley, Ballinasloe's David McKeigue and Michael McAteer, and Pat O'Gorman from Creggs for their help.

Connacht Rugby staff involved were Wendy Hickey, Emer O'Dowd, Lyndon Jones, Gavin Foley, Conor Galvin, Will Thornton, and Walter Gibbons.

The schools involved were: Claregalway, Ballaghlea, Dunmore NS, Gaelscoil Tuam, Ballinlass, Cloontuskert, Ballagh, Ballyleague, Clonberne, Kilteevan, Creggs , Tarmon, Ardeevin, Athenry, Gaelscoil de hÍde, Summerhill, Lawrencetown, Clontuskert, Scoil Uí Cheithearnaigh, Mullagh, Geevagh, Gaelscoil Liatroma, St. Edward’s and Rathcormac.

For more details on Connacht Rugby’s Club and Community Department, please email info@connachtrugby.ie.

See a selection of photos from the blitz at Donamon Castle below.