As part of our continued support and development of Women’s Rugby in Ulster The Front Row Union provide elite women rugby players with their required support under the banner of TeamFRU. Players in TeamFRU can access a variety of support mechanisms including financial support, equipment provision, and health and welfare support including access to sports therapy treatment.

In order to continue to grow the women’s game in the province we ask that the members of TeamFRU become involved with our coverage and to do this they also receive training in media work and photography.

We now catch up with Vicky Irwin as she talks about her experiences as part of TeamFRU.

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I joined TeamFRU in the 2016 season and since then it has provided me with a number of opportunities.

Over the summer I travelled with TeamFRU to France to cover the World Rugby U20 Championship in Narbonne and then the final leg of World Rugby Sevens Series at the Paris 7’s.

During the U20 Championship I edited photos and worked in the media room to interview some of the players. This helped with my confidence as I had to go out of my comfort zone and work with other media organisations.

Due to the French train strike we then had to drive overnight (John was thrilled) to Paris which was a completely different experience to Narbonne.

The Sevens Series was fast paced and a lot more full on! During the tournament I interviewed and edited videos of multiple international players, many of whom I aspire to be as good as. Highlight was interviewing Michaela Blyde and Portia Woodman, both World Champions. Ireland women won the Challenge Trophy which was also good to see!

Throughout this tournament we were treated like royalty by the volunteers and it was brilliant to just have banter with them and other media teams.

In France we didn’t just do media work, I also convinced John to take us to the Safari Park and it was the best thing! We literally drove past zebra, lions, bears and rhinos. It was unreal. It was here that John let us loose with the cameras and the photos we took looked like ones David Attenborough would be proud of!

From here Beth got to go on and photograph some of the U20’s matches and the Paris 7’s and is now currently a photographer for TeamFRU – so you could say it was down to me begging to go to the safari, that she is such a successful photographer!

Over the summer I was also given the nod to try out some photography, I photographed the Ulster Youth team’s vs Ontario. Ontario were on tour from Canada and provided all the Ulster teams with competitive games.

This was a good experience as it allowed me to test myself and see if I actually can photograph sport. The photos I took where good and Ontario even took a few of them for their media outlets. (Check out Vicky’s photos from the games here).

“My rugby career began at Armagh RFC, I started to play when I was 14. Immediately I fell in love with the sport. I loved the contact and I loved the skill needed to play. Armagh always backed me fully and while I was there I won a number of awards, the one that stands out the most to me was Youth Player of the Year. I was the first girl in the club’s history to win this award. I was very sad to leave Armagh when I moved to Belfast for Uni. but I was pleased to return and do photography at their first ever match in AIL 1B, (Check out Vicky’s photos from the Armagh v Old Wesley game here).

Along with media training, The Front Row Union also provides me with financial support, which is very beneficial to me as a student on a voluntary placement at The Wallace High School. TeamFRU gives me access to personal training, which is major for me as I’ve recently torn my MCL, so it is vital I maintain my strength in that area and this provides me with specific exercises that allows me to do so. It also provides access to sports massage which is very beneficial to recovery and has recently helped me to overcome an injury I was carrying prior to the interpros this year.

As an out half it is important for me to be able to kick, and before being a member if TeamFRU I was kicking with training balls, but team FRU has provided me with quality match balls to practice with. 

Being provided with these helps me as an athlete as it allows me to train as best I can without having to worry about money. 

TeamFRU also pulled together their first competitive team this summer and it was exciting to be involved. We had final say on everything from final selection of players and match tactics to the design of our kit. As the youngest side at the tournament we were very competitive against teams featuring international players from Ireland and Scotland.[/su_quote]

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