We caught up with our latest Club Members Old Belvedere last week as they prepared to return to rugby for the coming season.

It’s been a difficult time for most clubs as they adapt to the Covid-19 restrictions but the Dublin side have been working hard behind the scenes to get their preparations on track and it was good to see a large turnout of players as we pulled up at Ollie Campbell Park.

The club have been busy off the field during the summer with a shake up of their coaching team seeing the introduction of Johnny Garth as head coach, with Nora Stapleton continuing as assistant coach and Ailis Mardon-Egan returning.

Garth, who was a member of St Mary’s College Senior Men’s coaching team for four years, winning an AIL title in 2012, stated on his appointment: [su_quote]

I am delighted to be appointed as the Women’s Senior Coach for the upcoming season. Old Belvedere RFC has a long and proud tradition in women’s rugby, and I very much look forward to getting started with such a talented and exciting squad.[/su_quote]

We caught up with Old Belvedere and Ireland’s Linda Djougang who was one of our star players for Ireland before the Six Nations was postponed due to Covid. As an athletic, ball playing, front row Linda certainly made an impression in her first international season with some hugely impressive stats in metres made and tackles completed. She also caught the eye of several international photography judging panels with this picture, by our photographer Bob Given, of Linda in action during her debut against Wales, in November 2019, picking up several Gold Medal awards around the world.

Linda, who works as a nurse, switched her focus to a front line role in the fight against the pandemic but, after six tough months, it’s some relief to get “outdoor active” again and continue her impressive rugby career.

Belvo will have to hit the ground running as they compete in, what should be, a tough Community Series with the Leinster Conference featuring five AIL sides but Linda is looking forward to the challenges ahead.

We also caught up with longtime FRU Favourite Jenny Murphy who appreciates the role rugby has to play as the population looks to get back to some form of normality.

Jenny, who starred for Ireland in the centre during their 2013 Six Nations Grand Slam has latterly been playing in the back row for her club.

With the new coaching set up at Belvo and Jenny still, in our opinion, one of Ireland’s most abrasive centres we asked if she will be switching back to midfield in the coming season.

With our interviews completed we hung around to get some photos of the pre season training, and it was good to see quite a few of the Leinster U18’s squad working with the senior players at Belvo.

The pictures from the training session are below.