DANNAH O’BRIEN – Women’s Rugby
Dannah O'Brien Photo: ©INPHO/Billy Stickland
In August and September this year 16 teams will compete in the World Cup 2025 which will be held on English soil. Ireland are in Group C alongside New Zealand, Japan and Spain.
All is calm now as this years rugby award winner reflects on what has been an amazing 2024.
With just seven minutes to go in their final Six Nations tie against Scotland in Kingspan Stadium, the sides were tied at 12-12. A draw was not going to be good enough. Ireland needed a win to clinch third spot in the competition and qualify for the World Cup.
It had been tough for the home side who trailed on two occasions. Then came the moment when Ireland won a penalty about 10 metres to the left of the posts. For a left-footed kicker, it was far from simple but the Irish and former Tullow out-half, Dannah O’Brien, held her composure and the ball sailed inside the right-hand post for the decisive score.
There was still time for Scotland but Ireland dug in winning turnover ball in injury time and O’Brien kicked dead to secure the victory.
It was a glorious end to the Six Nations which set Ireland up for the WXV1 competition where history beckoned once more. An opening 36-10 win against Australia also at Kingspan Stadium in September created the platform for the New Zealand test just over two weeks later in Vancouver.
A powerful pack performance coupled with O’Brien’s tactical acumen saw Ireland level the game at 27-27 each with a conversion attempt to come and a final play for the Kiwi’s after the kick.
Again, it was on the left and O’Brien, having missed an earlier one from a more difficult position had learned. It was close but with the aid of the right-hand upright the ball deflected over the cross-bar to seal a famous win.
That wasn’t all for O’Brien either. She won silverware in the Celtic Challenge Cross-border competition where she was part of a Wolfhounds side that won the new competition. With the Six Nations starting against France next month and the World Cup on the horizon these are exciting times for O’Brien.
