Ben Martin named as new Leinster Women head coach
Ben Martin will take over as head coach of the Leinster Women's senior team ahead of this summer's Vodafone Interprovincial Championship, replacing the outgoing Tania Rosser.
Martin represented his native Australia on the Sevens circuit during his playing career.
He served as a player-coach at Kanturk in the AIL before taking over UL Bohemians Women, where he won the AIL title and picked up the 2019 Women's Coach of the Year award.
He guided Blackrock College RFC's Women's team to two AIL finals, lifting the trophy in the 2022/23 campaign.
Most recently, he served on Neill Alcorn's coaching ticket in the Celtic Challenge as the Wolfhounds won nine of their ten games to claim the crown.
"It's an exciting time, obviously, with a Women's World Cup on the horizon," said Martin, who has Michelle Claffey and Charlie Doel as backs and forwards coaches, respectively.
"There's a chance to potentially unearth some diamonds that haven't been found yet within the pathways of women's rugby.
"I'm excited. It's a big challenge. There's a nice history with what's happened, especially in the recent history, with Leinster being back-to-back champions, so that puts a little bit of pressure on us."
Leinster begin the defence of their Interprovincial crown against Ulster at Energia Park on 10 August.
Women's Interprovincial Championship Fixtures:
Round 1: Sunday, 10 August
Leinster v Ulster at Energia Park (kick-off 2.30pm)
Munster v Connacht at Virgin Media Park (4.15pm)
Round 2: Saturday, 16 August
Leinster v Munster at Energia Park (2.30pm)
Connacht v Ulster at Dexcom Stadium (4.15pm)
Round 3: Saturday, 23 August
Connacht v Leinster at Dexcom Stadium (2.30pm)
Ulster v Munster at Kingspan Stadium (4.15pm)
Finals Day: Saturday, 30 August
Games will be played at Energia Park.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
7 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Rúaidhrí O'Connor: The IRFU need to balance their books while protecting the golden goose
On Friday night, a packed Aviva Stadium waved the most Irish-influenced Lions in history off on their mission to Australia with Andy Farrell, four of his assistant coaches, 16 of his players and a swathe of support staff on board. The men's national team won seven of their nine internationals this season with all of their home games sold out, while the women's team continued their steady improvement towards this year's World Cup. Leinster played Munster at a sold-out Croke Park and went on to win the URC and reach a European semi-final. At a glance, Irish rugby has never been in a stronger position.
RTÉ News
15 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Kerry see off Cavan but left sweating over injuries
Victory for Kerry in their first All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final, but at what cost? A nine-point win over Cavan was a neat reversal of the nine-point defeat to Meath the previous week that put Kerry in this pickle, but injuries to Mike Breen, before the game, and Diarmuid O'Connor, at the throw-in, will have soured the result. Bar a short spell in the second half when Cavan cut a 12-point deficit to six, the Ulster men played a poor second to a much improved Kerry, but whether this performance will be good enough to beat more Ulster opposition next week in Croke Park is the big ask of the Munster champions now. Kerry will play one of Monaghan, Tyrone or All-Ireland champions, Armagh, in next week's quarter-finals but as the injuries continue to mount so do the question marks over their All-Ireland title winning credentials. Mike Breen, Paul Geaney and Tony Brosnan are among those on the treatment table, but the Kingdom limp on regardless. Responding to last week's drubbing by Meath in the way they did here is the response Jack O'Connor would have wanted from his troops, and Kerry did it well for the most part. David Clifford's hat trick of goals eased Kerry to victory, and on the surface things are going in the right direction in the Kingdom. But there were as many goal chances squandered – Clifford as culpable as anyone – and there was a spell in the second half when Cavan cut a 12-point deficit to six in with three shots. Clifford's first goal arrived in the sixth minute, skinning Niall Carolan along the end line and coolly finishing past Liam Brady to make it 1-02 to 0-02, and he was at it again in the 19th minute when Paul Murphy set him to make it 2-06 to 0-02. Cavan had Carolan in the sin bin for the period, but even with their full complement restored, Kerry were much the better side, leading by 10 at the interval, 2-12 to 0-08, with Paddy Lynch scoring all but one point of Cavan's total. The Ulster men won the second half by a point, Evan Crowe getting their goal in that little period when they halved that 12-point deficit with help from Jason McLoughlin's two-pointer and a Padraig Faulkner point. It was as close as Kerry came to a scare, but Clifford's third goal made it 3-16 to 1-15 on the hour mark and the home side saw it out from there. Kerry at their best? Not really, but it was good enough to see off a Cavan team who have been spiralling downward since their win away to Mayo a month ago. Paddy Lynch carried the fight best for the visitors with 12 points, but it is Kerry who are Croke Park bound next week to face more Ulster opposition. A sterner examination awaits. Kerry: Shane Ryan 0-03 (tpf, 0-01 45); Paul Murphy, Jason Foley, Tom O'Sullivan; Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Tadhg Morley, Gavin White; Joe O'Connor, Sean O'Brien; Diarmuid O'Connor, Sean O'Shea 0-04 (1 tp, 0-01f), Graham O'Sullivan 0-01; David Clifford 3-07 (2 tp, 0-01f), Conor Geaney 0-01, Dylan Geaney 0-02. Subs: Mark O'Shea for D O'Connor (inj, 3), Dylan Casey for T Morley (43), Paudie Clifford for C Geaney (56), Killian Spillane 0-01 for D Geaney (56), Evan Looney for G O'Sullivan (temp, 61-ft), Tomas Kennedy 0-01 for B O Beaglaoich (66). Cavan: Liam Brady, Niall Carolan, Brian O'Connell, Cian Reilly, Oisin Kiernan, Ciarana Brady, Padraig Faulkner 0-01, Jason McLoughlin 0-03 (tp), Evan Crowe 1-00, Gerard Smith, Dara McVeety, Oisin Brady, Cormac O'Reilly, Paddy Lynch 0-12 (2 tp, 2 tpf, 0-04f), Sean McEvoy.
RTÉ News
16 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Kildare secure big shock by dumping out Ulster champions Armagh
Kildare caused a massive upset in the TG4 All-Ireland senior championship by knocking Ulster champions Armagh out of the competition at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds to book their spot in the last eight. The visitors were sharper from start to finish and withstood a late Armagh onslaught to complete a famous victory. Armagh were without captain Clodagh McCambridge and Aoife McCoy while Aimee Mackin only came on for the last five minutes, but Kildare were full value for their win. Three sensational saves from Anna Carr kept Armagh in touch during the first half, while the hosts only kicked 1-03 from play. Kildare, on the other hand, had nine different scorers and their defence was on top throughout. Caroline O'Hanlon swapped scores early on with Ruth Sargent and Gillian Wheeler while Aoife Rattigan and Niamh Henderson also cancelled each other out. Kildare then went two in front thanks to efforts from Lara Curran and Alannah Prizeman. Kildare were reduced to 14 players for the final ten minutes of the opening period, with Lisa Shaw picking up a yellow card. During that time, Niamh Reel and O'Hanlon posted frees while Ciara Wheeler pointed to see the sides level at the break at 0-06 apiece. Kildare captain Laoise Lenehan extended the Lilywhites' lead from the second-half throw-in as Roisin Byrne and Reel (free) raised white flags at either end of the field. Both sides struggled to hit the target and passed up a series of scoring opportunities before Reel tapped over a free. Mia Ryan, kicking a score with her first touch after being introduced, and Henderson registered points at either end. Kildare then put a real stamp on proceedings by delivering the first goal of the game. Byrne did all the hard work before slipping the ball across to Lenehan, who tapped home the easiest of finishes. Rattigan made it a five-point game but Armagh could have had a goal of their own. Niamh Coleman set up Kelly Mallon, but the former captain's palmed effort was saved on the line by Mary Hulgraine. Emily Druse and Prizeman pointed before Armagh skipper Lauren McConville, played through by Henderson, handed her side a massive lifeline by smashing the ball to the bottom corner. Mackin, making her first appearance of the season, tapped over a free to leave one the margin but Kildare had the final say and Ryan's second of the day confirmed their victory. Armagh: A Carr; M Ferguson, C Towe, R Mulligan; E Druse (0-01), M McCann, G Ferguson; N Coleman, C O'Hanlon (0-04, 4fs); L McConville (1-00), C McNally, B Mackin; K Mallon, N Henderson (0-02), N Reel (0-02, 2fs). Subs: E Lavery for B Mackin (ht), E McConaghy for C McNally (40), E McGeown for K Mallon (50), A Mackin (0-01, 1f) for N. Reel (55). Kildare: M Hulgraine; R Sargent (0-01), L Lenehan (1-01), M Doherty; L Shaw, L Murtagh, M Aspel; L Reilly, C Moran; C Wheeler (0-01), A Rattigan (0-02), L Curran (0-01); G Wheeler (0-01), A Prizeman (0-02, 2fs), R Byrne (0-01). Subs: M Ryan (0-02) for L Murtagh (43), E Dowling for A Rattigan (50), A Mahon for G Wheeler (57).
