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Ireland U20s out-half Kate Flannery. Ryan Byrne/INPHO

'That was a surreal experience, seeing heroes like Aoife Wafer and getting to train with her'

Out-half Kate Flannery will lean on rugby-playing siblings and personal experience when the U20s Six Nations kicks off next week.

IT COMES IN handy for Kate Flannery that sheโ€™s the youngest of three Tipp siblings playing high-level rugby.

The older of her two brothers, Jake, made 12 appearances for Ulster last season. Alan, meanwhile, two years younger than Jake at 23, plays AIL Division 1A ball with Shannon.

โ€œTheyโ€™ve been class,โ€ beams Kate, 20.

But especially helpful is the fact that she and Jake share a position, out-half, from where Kate will look to shine for Ireland U20s when they kick off their summer Six Nations against England in Parma this day next week.

โ€œHeโ€™s been so helpful,โ€ Flannery says of Ulster 10 Jake, who will battle with new recruit Aidan Morgan for the northern provinceโ€™s starting berth next season.

โ€œEven just doing the odd kicking session with me and even just seeing how resilient and motivated heโ€™s been. Thatโ€™s transferred to me and heโ€™s taught me a lot on and off the pitch.

โ€œItโ€™s so handy when it comes to review. Iโ€™ll send him a few clips and say, โ€˜What do you think of this? What can I improve here?โ€™ and vice versa, so itโ€™s really nice to have that support.โ€

While Jake himself played for the Ireland U20s in 2019 and Alan played age-grade rugby for the Flannerysโ€™ native province, Munster, Kate already holds one distinction over her brothers in the siblingsโ€™ chosen sport: sheโ€™s an AIL champion.

Kate steered the ship expertly last month as UL Bohs claimed their first title since 2018. That her crowning moment to date played out at the Aviva Stadium only accentuated the joy, and it resurfaces instantly as soon as the topic is broached.

โ€œIt was amazing, genuinely,โ€ Flannery says. โ€œWhen I think about that day, it just brings a smile to my face.

โ€œGetting to play at the Aviva for the first time ever, having the crowd there.

โ€œSince then, it gives you confidence when you come into camp to be more comfortable in yourself. Youโ€™re not afraid to express yourself.โ€

Flannery was eight years old when she began playing rugby with boys in Kilfeacle RFC, a 10-minute drive from the family home Bansha. The nearest girlsโ€™ team was Fethard, half an hour away, and it would have required a separate car-drop from her brothers on Saturday mornings, so Flannery made do for a few years until she began to take rugby more seriously.

She also became a serious GAA player: she played U16 camogie and minor football with Tipp, talents which created their own crossroads in her mid-teens when she was also playing underage rugby with Munster.

โ€œI had so many great experiences playing rugby and I just loved it and it made me happy,โ€ Flannery says. โ€œI thought that might be the right decision.โ€

She hasnโ€™t looked back much, going on to represent Ireland U18s, and now U20s, in the oval-ball game. But Flanneryโ€™s experiences in playing for representative teams in both camogie and football inform much of her approach to representing Ireland in her preferred sport.

โ€œThere are a lot of people who you wouldnโ€™t know โ€“ or youโ€™d know from playing against them but youโ€™ve never talked to them before,โ€ Flannery says of joining Niamh Briggsโ€™ 20s squad ahead of their Six Nations.

โ€œOnce you go into camp, thereโ€™s a lot of time where youโ€™re on โ€” training and things like that. But thereโ€™s a lot of off-time as well between meetings.

โ€œEven at lunch, you kind of just find yourself sitting with people you havenโ€™t talked to before, youโ€™ll ask them where theyโ€™re from and how they got into playing rugby as well, and why they want to succeed in it.

โ€œAnd as well, when weโ€™re staying for overnight camps, they pick your roommates and youโ€™d normally be with someone who you havenโ€™t met before.โ€

Is there anyone who she knew only from playing against who turned out to be more sound than she expected?

โ€œAh, thereโ€™s a few!โ€ Flannery laughs.

Iโ€™d say Clara Barrett (Ballina RFC/Connacht). Sheโ€™s definitely one of my best friends now and I hate playing against her, but now that Iโ€™ve gotten to know her, I kind of know what sheโ€™s going to do when Iโ€™m playing against her, so thatโ€™s quite funny.

Flannery has equally gotten a chance to become familiar with what her awaits her if she graduates from U20s level.

Earlier this year, she was one of a few underage players who were called up by Scott Bemand to join his Ireland senior teamโ€™s training camp ahead of their own Six Nations.

Flannery says:

That was such a surreal experience, seeing the likes of these heroes like Aoife Wafer and getting to train with her day to day.

โ€œI think it was a good experience just to see what the standard was like, how professional it is, how much you have to just dial in. Itโ€™s a different standard to what youโ€™d be used to.

โ€œWhen youโ€™re seeing it from the outside, you never know what itโ€™s like but when youโ€™re inside there, you see the hard work, everyoneโ€™s undeniable motivation.

โ€œItโ€™s crazy. How everyone acts; it teaches you that if youโ€™re 15 minutes early, youโ€™re nearly late.โ€

Flannery and her teammates will look to make the right impression when their Six Nations begins in Parma next Thursday.

Ireland U20s Six Nations Womenโ€™s Summer Series fixtures (all to be played in Parma/all times Irish time)

England v Ireland, Thursday, 4 July, kick-off 5:30pm (Six Nations YouTube channel)

Ireland v Italy, Tuesday, 9 July, kick-off 9am (Six Nations YouTube channel)

Ireland v Scotland, Sunday, 14 July, kick-off 9am (Six Nations YouTube channel)

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    Mute chris mcdonnell
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    Mar 1st 2025, 9:23 PM

    Mcnabney looks like heโ€™s going to real deal.

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    Mute QuinsStoop
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    Mar 1st 2025, 8:08 PM

    Bonkers game. Head is dizzy watching that scoreboard bounce back and forth. Entertaining enough but ulster a little lucky I feel. Scarlets are no greats shakes either. Maybe McFarland wasnโ€™t the problem after allโ€ฆ!

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    Mute Graham Vard
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    Mar 1st 2025, 8:33 PM

    Dalton is a block of a man, I thought he showed up well. Iโ€™m encouraged by young lads leaving to have different rugby/life experiences. Iโ€™ve always thought Irish rugby lacks diversity in many senses of the word. Now heโ€™s back โ€“ it will be interesting to see what he can offer.

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    Mute Michael Murray
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    Mar 1st 2025, 8:11 PM

    Twas great entertainment to be fair. You have to appreciate a good contest and that surely was one. When your team gives you something to enthuse about and can involve the crowd as they did tonight then there is a heart beat there and so, plenty of hope.

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    Mute Michael Corkery
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    Mar 1st 2025, 8:20 PM

    @Michael Murray: a very young team and coaching staff. Itโ€™ll need time โ€“ thereโ€™s talent but itโ€™s very raw.. I canโ€™t see them come close to the playoffs or qualifying for CC though. Will that be accepted?

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    Mute Stuart
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    Mar 1st 2025, 8:34 PM

    @Michael Murray: yep enjoyed that , was exiting alright. Scarlets are actually quite a physical side. Nothing between the two sides to be fair..Richie Murphy breathes a sigh of relief this week..

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    Mute Michael Murray
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    Mar 1st 2025, 8:39 PM

    @Michael Corkery: โ€ฆ.unsure of Richie Murphy but yes to not looking for quick fixes. Has been too much chopping /changing and consequently it is difficult for what is a tremendously loyal and supportive fan base to get behind so much disruption. Patience is needed. Build something the fans can fall back in love withโ€ฆโ€ฆjust unsure Murphy is capable. Actually think you have identified the core issue more than he has.

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    Mute Rob O'Connor
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    Mar 1st 2025, 9:31 PM

    @Stuart: good win for the Lions today :)

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    Mute Stuart
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    Mar 1st 2025, 9:40 PM

    @Rob Oโ€™Connor: thanks. great getting one over the stormers and sharks, about time ..in a good position for a top 8 slot, so very pleasedโ€ฆ:)

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    Mute Neill Thallon
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    Mar 1st 2025, 10:55 PM

    @Michael Murray: with a horrific injury list at Ulster it has been necessary to chop and change
    I am sure that probably no one would like to see the end of changes more than Richie Murphy.
    The previous management let a number of key players go along with leaving a massive hole in the finances and then the departure of Moore and Kitsoft were unforeseen Events which has left a massive gap.

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    Mute Justin Robinson
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    Mar 2nd 2025, 12:33 AM

    @Michael Murray: I think we must have been watching different games. The only high quality entertainment all night, bar a couple of decent kicks from Murphy, was provided by the fella from Scarlets who sang a couple of songs in the bar afterwards.

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    Mute Michael Murray
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    Mar 2nd 2025, 1:04 AM

    @Justin Robinson: โ€ฆ.where do I mention โ€˜high qualityโ€™?โ€ฆ..your value, not mine.I said good contest.

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    Mute Justin Robinson
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    Mar 2nd 2025, 1:22 AM

    @Michael Murray: If wasnโ€™t a good contest. It was a poor game between two poor teams in front of a poor and largely silent crowd, that happened to be decided by a small number of points.

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    Mute Ray Ridge
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    Mar 1st 2025, 8:03 PM

    My god Ulster are some shambles of a rugby team. So so Sloppy. Only Mcnabney came out of this with any credit. The rubbish we are seeing from Munster, Ulster and Connacht on a weekly basis cannot be understated. Connacht determined to press the self destruct button again tonight.

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    Mute Eoin H
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    Mar 1st 2025, 8:26 PM

    @Ray Ridge: Connacht cannot get any continuity when coaches get too big headed and think their better than the club when an offer comes into for them.

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    Mute Ray Ridge
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    Mar 1st 2025, 8:35 PM

    @Eoin H: Wilkins should do the honourable thing tonight and pack it in. He should also bring Cordero and Piers O Connors with him. If we are going to bring in guys from overseas then minimum requirement is that they can catch the ball and are willing to make a tackle.

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    Mute Jacob
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    Mar 1st 2025, 8:39 PM

    @Ray Ridge: you really are a beacon of positivity Raymond Ridgerton

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    Mute SEAN
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    Mar 1st 2025, 9:19 PM

    @Ray Ridge: 3 irish wins

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    Mute Ray Ridge
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    Mar 1st 2025, 9:23 PM

    @SEAN: No good. Had you listened to me, your 50-cent quadruple wouldnโ€™t be in the bin.

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    Mute SEAN
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    Mar 1st 2025, 9:27 PM

    @Ray Ridge: im.not on about my 25 cent bet im saying 3 irish wins

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    Mute SEAN
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    Mar 1st 2025, 9:28 PM

    @Ray Ridge: I only listen to u when u predict something i will the other team

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    Mute SEAN
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    Mar 1st 2025, 9:29 PM

    @SEAN: bet the other team

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    Mute mark sheehan
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    Mar 1st 2025, 9:42 PM

    @Ray Ridge: any chance youโ€™d head away with them? Both defences very porous but fair play to Connacht they stuck at it when it would have been easier to pack it in and 5 points in the bag.

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    Mute Paulie Murphy
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    Mar 1st 2025, 8:26 PM

    Welsh sideโ€™s improving are the irish sideโ€™s arent

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    Mute John Morris
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    Mar 1st 2025, 8:07 PM

    Watching Ulster play with a proper scrumhalf for 60 was interesting, a novelty even. It took a while for the team to cop-on to what that means, but thereโ€™s some hope.

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    Mute SAMUEL T McGLADERY
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    Mar 2nd 2025, 1:06 AM

    Raw sort of game 12 points down before an Ulster had touch the ball ( nearly) and then 10 more given away stupidly penalty before half time and a lose ball with no defence behind the ball.

    The sort of mistakes which can dishearten many ,

    Front row is a problem with a lack of ability to get the ball beyond the gain line the back is young and in experience likewise the half backs

    And an injiury list too many key players and players some having to play out of position makes for a fragile defence .

    After 5 minutes I expected to the side to lose that they didnโ€™t gives hope for the future but maybe not this year but it requires a better front row to be acquired

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