It’s hard to imagine that the fashion fest that caught my eye as I arrived at Belfast Harlequins Rugby Club was made up from the same players that I’d watched smash and bash each other across the rugby pitches of Ulster this past season. However, club rivalries were put to one side for one night as the women of Ulster rugby celebrated at the Ulster Women’s Awards!

It was a night for celebration as Ulster Women have made impressive progress this year making significant advances in the international, inter provincial and club arenas.

Internationally, Ulster achieved two new caps with City of Derry’s Stacey-Lea Kennedy and Donegal’s Larissa Muldoon joining Lauren Day in the Irish Six Nations squad with all three featuring throughout the tournament.

At inter provincial level Ulster struggled to get results but did award 19 new caps as they looked to build a squad for future campaigns. Although out-gunned by the experienced Leinster and Munster sides the team was desperately unlucky to come away from Connacht with a narrow loss and the girls will use the experience to push on in this seasons tournament which begins in August.

However it’s at club level where the Ulster women’s game is really getting competitive, with both Cooke and City of Derry getting to All Ireland Cup Finals. Add in  Belfast Harlequins, who were snapping at Derry’s heels all season, and there are now three strong sides who’ll be vying for top spot in the province over the next few season.

Elsewhere, Carrick enjoyed a memorable cup run all the way to the final of the Rosie Stewart Cup and though Cavan timed their end of  season resurgence just too late to enjoy a cup run of their own they did take some notable scalps as they finished off their league campaign in fine style.

After the loss of some key talent this season Enniskillen quietly consolidated their league standing and will look to push on next season with some exciting youngsters coming through and with the addition of development sides Ballymoney, Letterkenny, Ards, Malone and Quins II’s the Women’s club game in Ulster is the strongest it’s been for many years.

The prize winners on the night were as follows.

Club of the Year – City of Derry.

Front Row Union Player of the Year – Stacey-Lea Kennedy, City of Derry.

Representative Player of the Year – Grace Davitt, Cooke.

Development Player of the Year – Claire McLaughlin, Cooke.

U19 Player of the Year – Peita McAllister, Malone/Belfast Harlequins.