We caught up with some of the players at the Ulster Women’s Training Camp as they go through their final preparations ahead of next weekend’s trial match against Connacht.

First up we had a chat with one of the youngsters of the team, Shannon Heapes, who makes the three hour round trip from Stranorlar, Co Donegal two to three times a week to take part in the training camp and specialist scrum sessions.

Despite being one of the younger players in the squad Shannon brings a wealth of experience having started playing when she was twelve at St Colomba’s College, Stranorlar, under the tutelage of her father.

Shannon’s pathway to the senior squad was through involvement with the Ulster Regional Development Squad, including a period as captain of Ulster U18’s.

The talented prop started her senior career with Letterkenny Ladies before moving to City of Derry Ladies last season and was called into the Ulster Senior Squad, making her first senior appearance against Munster in the Inter Provincials last season.

“It’s a big difference from Under 18’s. It’s a really good set up and you are really pushed to make sure you play to your full potential. The coaches, last year and this year are brilliant, they really challenge you. Philip Doyle (Forwards Coach) takes no messing, it’s good to see all the girls stepping it up this season. 

It’s really exciting, I don’t even mind the travelling, and hopefully I’ll get a few more caps this season. I think we have great potential this year – we’ll be tough competition. It’s a united team, working for each other. “

Next up we had a quick word with Ulster stalwart Nikita Armstrong who has been involved with the Ulster Senior Squad for the last eight years. The all action player, who started in the back row before settling on the front row, see’s the coaching of Philip Doyle, Jarrett Truscott and scrum specialist Peter Bracken as something that will benefit all the clubs in Ulster.

The reputation that Philip Doyle brings with him has really motivated the girls to perform this season. Everyone pays more attention, are more switched on and you get great feedback.

There are a lot of clubs represented in this squad and the players can all take something back to their clubs which should improve the women’s game in Ulster as a whole. I’m certainly looking forward to taking the specialist scrum coaching we’ve had back to Cooke. As for Queen’s and Cooke, who will be playing in AIL1 this season. it gives the players a good indication of the level required and lets you hit the ground running when the club season begins. 

With regards to Ulster, we have a good mindset this season and if we can put what we’ve been learning in training onto the pitch we might shake a few teams up this season

Of course we couldn’t resist an interview with “fans favourite” Eliza Downey who’s made it back into the Ulster Senior Squad after several season out due to injury, travelling,  and All Ireland success with her beloved Down Ladies.

Eliza, who came to the fore as one of the stars of Ireland Women’s 2010 Rugby World Cup campaign took us through the changes in the senior set up over the last five years.

It’s an exciting time to be back in Ulster Rugby. I worked with Philip Doyle in the Ireland Squad back in 2010 and I’ve great memories of it all. You know what he expects and the professionalism that he brings to it, it’s exciting, you know you have to up your game, prove a point and earn respect. 

Over the last five years there has been an increase in the quality of the coaching and what they expect. You can see that it’s not just a pool of two clubs in this squad, there are players from Cavan and Donegal, it’s so broad now. It just shows that in the space of five years how much the game has grown. There are talented new players in the squad this year and it’s great to get playing with them, it gets you switched on to compete at that level. 

The level of coaching from Philip [Doyle] and Jarrett [Truscott] are going to give people the confidence to take what they learn at these sessions into their clubs and that momentum and drive can only be good for the club game as well.  

One of those talented new players is Hannah Burns who started playing at Newry Ladies three short years ago. Hannah’s involvement is testament to the Development League which has enabled new clubs to gain competitive experience. With her Ulster Camp experience Hannah hopes to “dual” this season with Newry and Queens Ladies.

It’s daunting the first time you come along to camps like this as there are some absolute cracking girls here, but the girls take you aside and teach you so much themselves. As well as the coaching, which is absolutely brilliant, girls like Amy [Davis] and Jemma [Jackson] teach you the skills that they have developed from previous years. I feel I’ve got a wealth of knowledge from them as well as the coaches. 

I expected it to be intense and it’s lived up to that. The strength and conditioning and the quality of the girls playing has definitely improved my play, they are taking me along with them and improving my game every week. I can’t wait till next week [training game against Connacht] to see how that pans out.  

Working with Ireland’s most successful Women’s Coach is intimidating at first but he’s so lovely really it’s hard to be scared any more! [laughs]