IT COMES IN handy for Kate Flannery that sheโs 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.
โTheyโve 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.
โHeโs been so helpful,โ Flannery says of Ulster 10 Jake, who will battle with new recruit Aidan Morgan for the northern provinceโs starting berth next season.
โEven just doing the odd kicking session with me and even just seeing how resilient and motivated heโs been. Thatโs transferred to me and heโs taught me a lot on and off the pitch.
โItโs so handy when it comes to review. Iโll send him a few clips and say, โWhat do you think of this? What can I improve here?โ and vice versa, so itโs 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: sheโs 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.
โIt was amazing, genuinely,โ Flannery says. โWhen I think about that day, it just brings a smile to my face.
โGetting to play at the Aviva for the first time ever, having the crowd there.
โSince then, it gives you confidence when you come into camp to be more comfortable in yourself. Youโre 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.
โI had so many great experiences playing rugby and I just loved it and it made me happy,โ Flannery says. โI thought that might be the right decision.โ
She hasnโt looked back much, going on to represent Ireland U18s, and now U20s, in the oval-ball game. But Flanneryโs experiences in playing for representative teams in both camogie and football inform much of her approach to representing Ireland in her preferred sport.
โThere are a lot of people who you wouldnโt know โ or youโd know from playing against them but youโve never talked to them before,โ Flannery says of joining Niamh Briggsโ 20s squad ahead of their Six Nations.
โOnce you go into camp, thereโs a lot of time where youโre on โ training and things like that. But thereโs a lot of off-time as well between meetings.
โEven at lunch, you kind of just find yourself sitting with people you havenโt talked to before, youโll ask them where theyโre from and how they got into playing rugby as well, and why they want to succeed in it.
โAnd as well, when weโre staying for overnight camps, they pick your roommates and youโd normally be with someone who you havenโt met before.โ
Is there anyone who she knew only from playing against who turned out to be more sound than she expected?
โAh, thereโs a few!โ Flannery laughs.
Iโd say Clara Barrett (Ballina RFC/Connacht). Sheโs definitely one of my best friends now and I hate playing against her, but now that Iโve gotten to know her, I kind of know what sheโs going to do when Iโm playing against her, so thatโs 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 teamโs 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.
โI 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. Itโs a different standard to what youโd be used to.
โWhen youโre seeing it from the outside, you never know what itโs like but when youโre inside there, you see the hard work, everyoneโs undeniable motivation.
โItโs crazy. How everyone acts; it teaches you that if youโre 15 minutes early, youโre 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 Womenโs 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)
Mcnabney looks like heโs going to real deal.
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 wasnโt the problem after allโฆ!
Dalton is a block of a man, I thought he showed up well. Iโm encouraged by young lads leaving to have different rugby/life experiences. Iโve always thought Irish rugby lacks diversity in many senses of the word. Now heโs back โ it will be interesting to see what he can offer.
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.
@Michael Murray: a very young team and coaching staff. Itโll need time โ thereโs talent but itโs very raw.. I canโt see them come close to the playoffs or qualifying for CC though. Will that be accepted?
@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..
@Michael Corkery: โฆ.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 withโฆโฆjust unsure Murphy is capable. Actually think you have identified the core issue more than he has.
@Stuart: good win for the Lions today :)
@Rob OโConnor: thanks. great getting one over the stormers and sharks, about time ..in a good position for a top 8 slot, so very pleasedโฆ:)
@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.
@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.
@Justin Robinson: โฆ.where do I mention โhigh qualityโ?โฆ..your value, not mine.I said good contest.
@Michael Murray: If wasnโt 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.
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.
@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.
@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.
@Ray Ridge: you really are a beacon of positivity Raymond Ridgerton
@Ray Ridge: 3 irish wins
@SEAN: No good. Had you listened to me, your 50-cent quadruple wouldnโt be in the bin.
@Ray Ridge: im.not on about my 25 cent bet im saying 3 irish wins
@Ray Ridge: I only listen to u when u predict something i will the other team
@SEAN: bet the other team
@Ray Ridge: any chance youโd 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.
Welsh sideโs improving are the irish sideโs arent
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 thereโs some hope.
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 didnโt gives hope for the future but maybe not this year but it requires a better front row to be acquired