Meteoric rise of a Claremorris trailblazer

Like many her age, Aoife Heaney is just finishing her exams before looking towards the summer. However, not many fifth year students in Ireland, much less Mayo, can say they have made history and represented their country.

The 17-year-old rugby full-back, who can also play on the wings, became the first person from her home club, Claremorris Colts RFC, to be selected to play for Ireland, which she did last month at the Six Nations U18s Women’s Festival in Wellington College, London.

Heaney has had a meteoric rise in recent years, from call ups with Connacht at under-16 and under-18 level to now donning the national green jersey, and she was the guest of honour at the Claremorris Colts awards night last Friday in the McWilliam Park Hotel in recognition of her distinction.

Speaking to the Western People, she described the ‘amazing’ experience of finding out about the call up to the final squad after being drafted into the training panel.

“I was kind of hoping I would be considered. I did train fairly hard to try and make it. Sometimes you never know though, just with positions and stuff they might have different things in mind than you might think but I was definitely hoping I was going to make it,” said the Mount Saint Michael student.

“I played every game so that was good for me. I got a lot of game time. It was a lot to be playing but I really did enjoy it, and the weather was good over there. It was a really good experience.” 

The demands of a higher level of training and the commitment required were a big adjustment, but Aoife loved every moment of it.

“Getting exposed to playing with the top-class people from France, Wales, it'll translate back when you get home to how you play, just because the level over there would be very high, high performance and all the training and everything.” 

Aoife Heaney’s journey into rugby began in her first year at secondary school. Initially taking up the sport to be with her friends, her love quickly blossomed.

“My friends all played rugby in first year. They were kind of onto me. It was ‘give it a try’. It was just a four week training thing in the middle of Covid, and all my friends are saying to come and try it.

“I just went for the social aspect, to see them outside of school, but then I ended up really loving it. My first game and everything, I just loved it.” 

Playing with her friends in school has generated huge success for her and her teammates, going on to win the Connacht Senior ‘A’ title, a team which included members of their winning All-Ireland football side, Síomha McNulty and Isobel Phillips.

Heaney also plays a bit of Gaelic football herself, but rugby commitments meant she had to step back from the school’s football team.

“We had a really good win so that was really good for us, and the school really loves us playing rugby. They really like to promote it in the school.” 

She cites Irish internationals Aoife Wafer and Hannah Clarke as role models, the latter also representing Connacht. Heaney has represented the province at under-16 and under-18 level with the Interpros squad and she hopes to make the senior squad in future years, as well as represent the Irish under-18s again next year and the Sevens squad.

“Sevens is now like becoming really big with the women especially. Long-term goal, I'd probably like to be in the Olympics, but short term I'd like to play for Connacht seniors. I can play Ireland next year so make that squad again and just go from there.”