Ulster U18 Players Lucinda Kinghan and Katie Hetherington were part of the hugely successful Ireland U18 sevens team that completed their second Home Nations U18 Sevens clean sweep at Birmingham University over the weekend.

Heatherington was competing in her first tournament and featured in three of the games while veteran Kinghan featured in all five.

Kinghan and Hetherington spoke to the Front Row Union’s Vicky Irwin after the tournament.

Lucinda:

“It was another thoroughly enjoyable tournament and we are delighted to have retained the title of Home Nations Champions.

Every team stepped up their performance from last week.  Matches were tougher, but as a team we worked hard for each other and came out on top.”

Katie:

I really enjoyed the opportunity to be able to play with the girls in this tournament and to experience winning the title.

Each nation was a challenge but all of us stepped up and worked for each other in every match to retain the trophy. 

The tournament details are shown below and there is more info over on IRISH RUGBY

IRELAND UNDER-18 WOMEN’S SEVENS SQUAD

Maggie Boylan (Carrick-On-Suir RFC/Munster), Megan Burns (Tullamore RFC/Leinster), Meabh Deely (Ballinasloe RFC/Connacht), Anna Doyle (Tullow RFC/Leinster) (C), Molly Fitzgerald (Navan RFC/Leinster), Katie Hetherington (Clogher Valley RFC/Ulster), Lucinda Kinghan (Monaghan RFC/Ulster), Saoirse O’Reilly (Wicklow RFC/Leinster), Beibhinn Parsons (Ballinasloe RFC/Connacht), Aoibheann Reilly (Ballinasloe RFC/Connacht), Meadbh Scally (Mullingar RFC/Leinster), Dorothy Wall (Fethard RFC/Munster)

UNDER-18 HOME NATIONS SEVENS – ROUND 2 RESULTS

Round 1. Ireland 29 Wales 22

Ireland: Dorothy Wall, Katie Hetherington, Lucinda Kinghan, Meabh Deely, Megan Burns, Anna Doyle, Saoirse O’Reilly. Replacements used: Maggie Boylan, Beibhinn Parsons, Meadbh Scally, Molly Fitzgerald, Aoibheann Reilly.
TRY: Beibhinn Parsons (2), Saoirse O’Reilly, Anna Doyle, Meadbh Scally. CON: Meabh Deely (2)

Round 2. England 7 Ireland 31

Ireland: Dorothy Wall, Maggie Boylan, Lucinda Kinghan, Aoibheann Reilly, Megan Burns, Beibhinn Parsons, Anna Doyle. Replacements used: Meabh Deely, Meadbh Scally, Molly Fitzgerald, Katie Hetherington, Saoirse O’Reilly.
TRY: Beibhinn Parsons, Anna Doyle (3), Aoibheann Reilly. CON: Megan Burns (3)

Round 3. Ireland 35 Scotland 5

Ireland: Meadbh Scally, Katie Hetherington, Molly Fitzgerald, Meabh Deely, Aoibheann Reilly, Beibhinn Parsons, Saoirse O’Reilly. Replacements Used: Anna Doyle, Maggie Boylan, Lucinda Kinghan, Megan Burns, Dorothy Wall.
TRY: Beibhinn Parsons (3), Meadbh Scally, Megan Burns. CON: Meabh Deely (5)

Semi-Final: Ireland 26 Scotland 5

Ireland: Dorothy Wall, Maggie Boylan, Lucinda Kinghan, Meabh Deely, Megan Burns, Beibhinn Parsons, Anna Doyle. Replacements used: Aoibheann Reilly, Meadbh Scally, Molly Fitzgerald.
TRY: Megan Burns (2), Dorothy Wall, Maggie Boylan. CON: Meabh Deely (2), Megan Burns

Final: Ireland 28 England 19

Ireland: Dorothy Wall, Maggie Boylan, Lucinda Kinghan, Meabh Deely, Megan Burns, Beibhinn Parsons, Anna Doyle. Replacements used: Aoibheann Reilly, Meadbh Scally.
TRY: Beibhinn Parsons (3), Megan Burns. CON: Meabh Deely (3), Megan Burns

IRELAND UNDER-18 WOMEN’S SEVENS SQUAD

Maggie Boylan (Carrick-On-Suir RFC/Munster), Megan Burns (Tullamore RFC/Leinster), Meabh Deely (Ballinasloe RFC/Connacht), Anna Doyle (Tullow RFC/Leinster) (C), Molly Fitzgerald (Navan RFC/Leinster), Katie Hetherington (Clogher Valley RFC/Ulster), Lucinda Kinghan (Monaghan RFC/Ulster), Saoirse O’Reilly (Wicklow RFC/Leinster), Beibhinn Parsons (Ballinasloe RFC/Connacht), Aoibheann Reilly (Ballinasloe RFC/Connacht), Meadbh Scally (Mullingar RFC/Leinster), Dorothy Wall (Fethard RFC/Munster)