Grace Moore, Sadhbh McGrath (second left), Fiona Tuite and Neve Jones after the win over Japan
BY RICHARD BULLICK
SADHBH McGrath officially comes of age on Saturday, August 30 but the Ireland prop’s 21st birthday celebrations can’t be over the top for the very good reason that she has a women’s rugby World Cup match to play at noon the next day!
It doesn’t feel like the worst sacrifice in the world and anyone who knows the bubbly young Ulsterwoman won’t doubt that she’ll still have plenty of fun in camp to mark the milestone ahead of Sunday’s Pool C clash with Spain in Northampton.
Having made her first World Cup appearance in the final few minutes against Japan last weekend, more gametime in this second group match and the Ireland win which would seal quarter-final qualification would be the perfect presents for rugby-mad McGrath.
Sadhbh was quite self-effacing afterwards when asked to talk through her touchdown against Scotland earlier this month, but there were plenty of people delighted to see the Donegal woman score her first try in the green jersey.
The popular prop forced her way over the whitewash for Ireland’s important opening try in the first World Cup warm-up match at Virgin Media Park in Cork on the first Saturday in August.
With three defenders trying to hold her up, McGrath displayed presence of mind along with impressive power and determination to get the ball grounded and spark Ireland’s successful fightback from a 14-point deficit on their way to winning 27-21.
“Isn’t that class to see, so many of her team-mates (mobbing her), she’s obviously a very likeable player and someone who has worked very hard for the last while. And a big, fabulous smile on her face, that’s brilliant,” declared BBC co-commentator Lindsay Peat.
“A brilliant finish by Sadhbh McGrath, congratulations to her. Look at that for a 20-year-old, like that’s fantastic. She didn’t panic, she kept pumping her legs. She could’ve tried to put it down earlier but she’d have been held up,” continued the ex-Ireland prop approvingly.
Lindsay expressed similar sentiments in a text to this writer the following morning, saying: “I was genuinely so happy for Sadhbh and you can tell by the reaction of her team-mates how special a person she is.”
In a flip of how Peat’s somewhat austere exterior belies a soft centre, the cherubic McGrath’s happy persona is superficially at odds with the inner steel of a determined young woman who has held her own in international rugby’s front row warfare as a teenager.
In another contrast, while latecomer Peat didn’t win her first cap for Ireland until just after her 35th birthday, McGrath made her full international debut aged just 18 when thrown in at the deep end for the 2023 Six Nations opener away to Wales at Cardiff Arms Park.
That was a baptism of fire for the rookie prop, packing down on the left of the front row in Peat’s old loosehead position against 18-stone Welsh powerhouse Sisilia Tuipulotu, and she was withdrawn following a torrid first half albeit after Ireland won a scum penalty late on.
But Clare-born Buncrana woman McGrath came off the bench in Ireland’s next 11 Tests before being an unused sub against Scotland at Ravenhill at the end of April last year, the day the girls in green clinched qualification for the World Cup.
Surgery last summer meant she missed September’s win against Australia in Belfast and, although brought to Vancouver, McGrath didn’t feature in any of the three matches including the famous upset of world champions New Zealand as Ireland finished runners-up at WXV1.
The emergence of Siobhan McCarthy resulted in McGrath having to bide her time in this spring’s Six Nations but she produced encouraging cameos off the bench in the last two matches of the campaign away to Scotland and Wales.
Having initially switched to tighthead at the WXV3 tournament in Dubai in October 2023, McGrath wore the green No 3 jersey for the first time against Scotland this month when making just her second start for Ireland, 22 matches on from that daunting debut.
Sadhbh came off the bench for Ireland’s send-off fixture against Canada the following weekend, earning her 16th cap before the age of 21, with her place in the World Cup squad assured ahead of the official announcement two days later.
She has put together a formidable body of work for someone so young, especially for the front row, and beneath that sweet and genial exterior is a fiercely competitive tough cookie who won’t take a backward step in international rugby’s combative trenches.
It was never my intention to make Sadhbh McGrath cry during our in-depth interview in the players’ lounge at the IRFU’s High Performance Centre in Dublin last month, but she became emotional when talking about the support she’d had from team-mates while injured.
Those tearful few moments provided an insight into soft-hearted Sadhbh, the human behind that infectious character always larking around on TikTok with a big grin on her face or the robust battleship prop who has been fighting her corner in Test scrums since a young age.
With her warm Donegal lilt, smiley Sadhbh is a cuddly character and the life and soul of this Irish set-up, but that’s only one leg to a well-balanced, substantive stool and, in a team environment, personality alone won’t cut it if someone isn’t pulling their weight.
Your correspondent put it to Sadhbh that her evident entertainment value in camp wouldn’t count for much if it wasn’t backed up by getting the hard work done, and then being able to go out and deliver in the white heat of battle at international level.
“You have to work hard but then it’s nice to connect with each other after training and just chill out, and I think that actually helps us with our on-field connections too. I’m friends with all the girls here and I want to work hard for them.
“I think we have all worked hard to be the most connected team we can, we strive to work hard for each other and that includes, say, knowing your detail because you want to contribute in a way which enables everyone else to do well as well,” muses McGrath.
“In terms of the personality thing, I suppose it’s just the way I am. I want to have fun, enjoy what I’m doing, and I think I play best when I’m relaxed and just enjoying my environment. It’s easy to enjoy the environment here, all the girls are just great and the staff.
“Everyone gets on so well and I look forward to coming in here to see everyone,” says Sadhbh, who has a healthy balance between socialising with her rugby buddies while not neglecting the lifelong friends outside that bubble back home in Donegal.
In the brief off-season before World Cup preparations commenced, McGrath went on holiday to Croatia with fellow Ireland forwards Brittany Hogan and Fiona Tuite and new Ulster skipper India Daley, but she values her other social circles too.
“I think so much of my friends from home, friends through school and from my (gaelic) football and camogie days. It’s nice to even chat to them about the rugby, they’ve no direct idea about what’s going on at all, but it’s good just getting that outside perspective.”
One of the things others might find a culture shock about the elite level of professional sport or representative rugby is the rather regimented existence, but it’s second nature now to McGrath, who has had good opportunities to immerse herself from an early age.
As well as playing senior international rugby younger than most, McGrath is grateful for coming through in an era where Ireland age group teams have been introduced while the Celtic Challenge is also providing valuable experience for emerging players on and off-field.
“It’s great to be in those environments, even just to get used to the travel and so forth. That (inaugural) Under 18 Six Nations (Festival) was my first experience of any type of elite level rugby and until then I’d no idea how things are done.
“Being involved in these teams and competitions gets girls used to timetables and having a routine, get used to having a timing for every single thing you’re going to do the whole day. That was a big jump for me at the start but becomes the norm.
“The friends you make is such an important thing. When we’re in camp, we’re working hard but if you couldn’t switch on and off at the appropriate times, and enjoy each other’s company when we’re having breaks, it could get too intense and be counter-productive.”
Teenage Clovers skipper Sadhbh McGrath scores a Celtic Challenge try against Brython Thunder
Sadhbh had to learn how to handle professional life fast and the resilience she showed in moving forward from that tough first outing in the green jersey is testament to McGrath’s character. It was a big occasion which came her way much earlier than expected.
“I’d just had my first senior interpros that January and then I played for the Combined Provinces in what was the first Celtic Challenge, so to then be starting for Ireland before the end of March was just a bit of a whirlwind really – it all just happened so fast, I think.
“But I always wanted to play for Ireland once I really got into rugby and started taking it seriously. From playing Under 18 interpros, I wanted to go on and play for Ulster at adult level and had aspirations to play for Ireland eventually.
“I was just so privileged to have been in that position so soon. It was amazing going into camp ahead of that Six Nations. I was actually just saying to Neve Jones today – we were looking at old pictures – about this stuff.
“I’d been so excited to have Neve involved in coaching me (at youth level), loved being there to watch her playing for Ireland (against Scotland) in 2022, and then there we were playing together a year later! Such a full circle moment and it’s so nice to be playing with your idols.
“I grew up thinking they were class, still do! Especially Neve, she’s great to play with – she’s unbelievable!” declares Sadhbh, who seems to have a great relationship with her fellow front row forward from Ulster, who is only marginally shorter and blonder than herself.
“I only took up rugby when I was 14. I played camogie and gaelic football first because that’s what I had access to in Donegal but then I went to (City of) Derry (RFC) to a Give It A Try session and never looked back,” explains Sadhbh.
Sadhbh’s aptitude for rugby became apparent pretty quickly and, thanks to her own commitment matched by that of a very supportive, proud father who happily clocked up the miles bringing her to training sessions, she rose rapidly through the ranks.
“I got picked to play in the first Under 18 Six Nations Festival for Ireland, so it was a good time to be breaking through. Having these sides is massively important as a vehicle for developing players.
“That tournament was an unreal experience for me. There were several other Ulster girls, such as Sophie Barrett and (Armagh-born) Maebh Clenaghan and ‘Pops’ (Neill Alcorn from Malone) was the head coach.
“But it was also good getting to know some of the girls from the other provinces, some of whom are in and around the Ireland senior set-up now. Katie Corrigan has been capped and both Kate Flannery and Jane Neill have been in World Cup camps this summer too.
“Robyn O’Connor and Hannah Clarke, who played in the Under 18s, have been involved in the World Series sevens this past season, Ellen Boylan too. It’s nice to see so many doing well and hopefully we all keep progressing,” says Sadhbh, the most decorated of the cohort.
Irish international Sadhbh McGrath with a young fan on a visit to City of Armagh RFC
ADAPTABLE McGRATH KEEPS RAISING BAR
Scrum coach Denis Fogarty and young multi-purpose prop Sadhbh McGrath are two larger-than-life characters in this Irish set-up in terms of entertainment value, but both bring plenty to the party beyond some healthy hilarity.
The affable Fogarty is arguably boss Scott Bemand’s most trusted lieutenant, put up to do press conferences regularly on behalf of a head coach who runs a tight ship, while McGrath can pull her weight in the team despite her still tender age.
In response to my light-hearted question about which of herself or Denis ‘is dafter’, Sadhbh actually responds more earnestly in paying tribute to an important mentor, who has helped hone her front row craft and shown his faith in a kindred spirit.
“Denis is unreal. He’s great, like he’s watching everything, all the bits which can help improve my game, going through even just centimetres. His level of knowledge is unbelievable and that’s so important when I’m playing both prop positions,” she enthuses.
In addition to helping McGrath adapt to the unfamiliar tighthead role, meaning she has the very valuable capability of being able to play either side of the front row, Fogarty handed her the Clovers captaincy for a Celtic Challenge game in the absence of Dorothy Wall.
With the then Munster skipper Wall sitting an exam that day, Clovers head coach Fogarty turned to the 19-year-old McGrath to captain his side and she duly led them to victory over Welsh outfit Brython Thunder in Donnybrook the first Saturday of January last year.
Responding to my observation that she seemed to take the extra responsibility in her stride, McGrath says: “While you might be captain on the day, you just have to play how you always play. You’re not going to change anything just because you’ve been given a title.
“And all the girls on the day, I think Kate Flannery was playing, Nicole Fowley, Ruth Campbell, people like that. You have your lineout leaders, you have your game-drivers, so many leaders to help you out that I didn’t really feel much pressure.”
She was brought up to talk to the media afterwards that day in the Old Wesley clubhouse and handled that with aplomb also, including discussing her recent switch to tighthead as first seen several months earlier at the WXV3 tournament in Dubai.
One of my memories of that day is of McGrath as skipper giving a knowing nod to the referee, like an old farmer bidding at an auction, and also almost sadistically bumping her two fists together to say ‘scrum again’ as Brython kept buckling and being penalised.
Having screwed the opposition scrum into the ground until they had a prop sinbinned, McGrath immediately instructed her outhalf to kick the next penalty to the corner on an afternoon which the young captain marked by touching down for a try.
Her embracing the challenge of trying tighthead and developing that relatively rare capability of playing both sides has been beneficial for Ireland and also made McGrath more indispensable within this squad during the current World Cup cycle.
Ulster’s Sadhbh McGrath runs at the Italy defence during her first Six Nations campaign (©INPHO/Tom Maher)
“(The switch) could seem daunting, but you know you just have to believe in yourself, you have to just get the reps in. There’s no point going in at the start thinking you can’t do it because you definitely can, even if it’s particularly challenging at times.
“Denis decides ‘right, you’re tighthead today’ and I’m ‘ok, great’. He makes sure I get plenty of reps on both sides. I like doing it and I think it has really stood to me. It gives me more opportunities personally and helps the team out as well, which is the most important thing.”
Ireland largely worked with a tight group of five props in camp this summer, with both McGrath and the squad’s most capped player Linda Djougang able to play both sides, plus looseheads Niamh O’Dowd and Siobhan McCarthy, and tighthead Christy Haney.
Unfortunately, American native veteran Haney – one of life’s happy props like Sadhbh – suffered World Cup heartbreak due to an ill-timed hamstring injury, with ex-England international Ellena Perry drafted in to win her first cap off the bench against Canada.
“I think we all strive to help each other, to make each other better. You can see that in our scrum sessions, we have an ‘arena’ and when you’re in the arena you need to switch on, that’s your job.
“You’re focusing on your detail, there’s just a shift of mindset once you enter the arena. That’s your stage and that’s where you need to show what you’re made of,” explained McGrath, in our interview which was done before Haney’s injury nightmare.
There was great satisfaction for Ireland’s replacement front row of McGrath at loosehead, hooker Cliodhna Moloney and tighthead Haney in pulverising the Scottish scrum after they came on for the last quarter of this spring’s final fixture of the Six Nations in Edinburgh.
“That’s my job, that’s what I want to showcase when I’m on the pitch. We work so hard in our units and that’s what we want to show the value of when it comes to matches. So we were happy with how that went in Edinburgh though unfortunately we didn’t get the win.
“Even in the Wales game the previous Sunday, we were buzzing with how we came on and scrummed that day too. Obviously there’s things you still need to improve on, even when you’re happy, but it was great to run out with Cliodhna and Christy and just really go for it.
After a run of appearing in 12 consecutive Test matches since her debut in Cardiff, that fixture with Wales in Newport was a much-relished return to the international field for McGrath having not featured for the previous eight Ireland games.
She was an unused sub against Scotland in Belfast at the end of April last year the day Ireland qualified for the forthcoming World Cup and then injury intervened which, along with McCarthy’s emergence, meant Sadhbh had to wait for her next opportunity.
“I think that day that we qualified for the World Cup was unbelievable, it was just hard work built up and it wasn’t just the 15 on the pitch, or the 23 on the team-sheet, it was the whole of everyone that’s been involved over a period.
“That’s what it took to get us over the line that day and it was unbelievable for us a team to know we’d qualified for the World Cup. You train and play for those highs. Unfortunately, I didn’t happen to get on the pitch, but that’s just the way it went that day, and that’s ok.”
She admits that being injured was a far greater psychological challenge and, after having to sit out the comprehensive victory over Australia at Ravenhill, McGrath made it to the WXV1 tournament – unlike the injured Haney – but didn’t feature in any of Ireland’s three matches.
“I think initially that (being injured) was hard. I had a procedure on my knee and it turned into a longer lay-off than I had thought it was going to be. I hadn’t been out for a while like that before so the challenge was as much mental as physical.
“It was very hard, I was only 19, and obviously just wanting to be playing rugby with my friends. I found being out of it very difficult. Well, I was in rehabbing, but it’s different and you have to switch your mindset.
“I struggled a bit to stay connected at the start. Just thought maybe if I removed myself slightly I may not be as upset about it, but I think that ended up being the worst thing. Everyone’s different, but for me mentally, I need to stay involved.
“I think I was just overwhelmed, the significance of the injury, the length of time I’d be out, and what I was missing. Us getting promoted too to WXV1 and knowing that I wasn’t going to play there, that was quite hard for me to take.
“That was June, and I was already thinking of October, so it was quite hard but I had the best medical staff, best team-mates, the best kind of friends to drag me out whenever I needed help,” reflects Sadhbh.
Ireland scrum coach Denis Fogarty has been influential in Sadhbh McGrath’s development
The year before, McGrath had actually needed surgery for the ankle injury sustained during Ulster’s game against Munster at Armagh’s Palace Grounds in early August, missing the rest of the interpros, but was back in action for Ireland’s WXV3 campaign in Dubai that October.
Seeing so many people hugging Sadhbh in Donnybrook the week after she sustained that injury made me think at the time she must have something serious which would sideline her longer-term, but with hindsight the embraces just reflected what a popular person she is.
“It’s actually making me emotional to think about it, being part of the best group. They always had my back, always kept me included. I owe them so much, you know, they’re a great bunch,” said Sadhbh, her voice breaking before she welled up properly.
With me feeling guilty that my revelation had reduced her to tears and Sadhbh embarrassed by breaking down during an interview, we got back on track by laughing at her crutch-waving celebrations a fortnight later after Ulster’s long-awaited win against Connacht in Cork.
Our HPC chat came midway through the second of the two three-week pre-season camps, with McGrath evidently enjoying the World Cup countdown and feeling grateful to be part of the build-up to Ireland’s first tournament in eight years.
“It’s been great, it’s honestly unbelievable to experience something like this. I’m just trying to soak it all in really and make the most of it. It’s great to be in with the girls and the coaching staff have put on such good sessions for us.
“The quality of sessions we’re having is unbelievable, like even from the start of June until now (July 9), it’s been really good and I’m really happy with how things have gone,” enthused Sadhbh before contemplating what playing in a World Cup would mean to her.
“It would mean the world to me, it would mean everything. It’s what every player wants to achieve and experience in their career. This is the first World Cup that Ireland have qualified for in eight years and it would so special to be involved in it.”
Aged just 12 at the time Ireland hosted that 2017 World Cup, Sadhbh wasn’t playing rugby back then – “I did know it was on but wasn’t at any matches, camogie was more my thing then” – but hopes the current tournament helps inspire more girls to take up the sport.
The vast increase in ticket sales compared to eight years ago is testament to the improved profile of a now professional sport and the current Irish internationals like McGrath herself are important role models for young girls and ambassadors for the sport.
Although still so young then herself, Sadhbh fondly recalls being asked to present awards at City of Armagh RFC after her first senior Six Nations, and she shares a heartwarming anecdote on the back of that visit to the cathedral city.
“I met a few young girls and they come to all the games, especially a little girl called Sadie. Her mum subsequently texted me to say ‘we’ve got tickets for the girls, will you surprise them by breaking the good news?’
“It’s just so, so nice that we have that enthusiastic support as players and also that they can see us, and we can come down and be approachable for them, and try to be role models for them to look up to,” says Sadhbh, smiling warmly.
A few weeks after the original interview, a beaming Sadhbh spoke to Local Women Sport again, this time on the pitch at Virgin Media Park after marking only the second start of her international career with a long-awaited first try in the green jersey.
“Yeah, am buzzing – it was great! Just happy to be playing again, and play with the girls. We’ve had such a hard summer of training so it’s nice to get out on the field for a match,” she enthused.
“The atmosphere was great, the crowd were loud – you could really hear them, as always here they were like the ‘16th man’, and it’s nice to have all our families here in the stand watching and supporting us too.”
The Ireland front five featured two locks, skipper Sam Monaghan and Eimear Corri, returning after missing all nine internationals last season due to injury as well a first start at tighthead for McGrath, who has been more used to coming off the bench for her country.
“I guess it’s like any other game really, you prepare the same because even when you’re on the bench, you might have to come on at any time. I’m buzzing for the girls coming back from injury, Beibhinn (Parsons) and the two second rows, they’ve had a tough year.
“It was a great afternoon for the first caps too, they played unbelievable and I’m so proud for them. We closed out the game well as a team and that’s credit to the leaders and our game-drivers who do such a good job.”
Meanwhile, the sturdy prop didn’t seek to claim much credit for her maiden try for Ireland, insisting: “I just dotted it down – that’s where I was, that’s what I had to do. I’ll have to watch it again, it’s kind of a bit of a blur now!”
The excitement has continued over the past few weeks, with McGrath typically prominent in the photos from Dublin and Heathrow airports en route to the Ireland team’s first base in Northampton and also looking like she was really enjoying the official Welcome ceremony.
Djougang’s sinbinning early in the final quarter probably delayed McGrath’s introduction in the opening game against Japan but her cameo appearance late on in Ireland’s convincing victory still made it an unforgettable afternoon for Sadhbh.
She’s an infectious character and, not that any more motivation is needed for a World Cup game, but this Irish squad will want to deliver on Sunday for both their tightheads, Djougang on the occasion of her 50th cap and to give McGrath a belated 21st birthday celebration.
Sadhbh McGrath with provincial captain India Daley at the Ulster Rugby Awards last year
Donegal girl Sadhbh McGrath (right) with Jane Neill at the inaugural U18 Six Nations Festival
Sadhbh McGrath (left) gives her hero Neve Jones the lineout call on her Ireland debut aged 18
Sadhbh McGrath waves to the camera on her arrival for Ireland training earlier this week (©INPHO/Ben Brady)
Sadhbh McGrath had to prop against 18-stone Welsh prop Sisilia Tuipulotu on her Ireland debut
Young Irish international Sadhbh McGrath speaking at an event at City of Armagh RFC in 2023
Sadhbh McGrath (left) with Eimear Corri after Ireland’s World Cup warm-up win over Scotland
Clovers captain Sadhbh McGrath on the charge against Brython Thunder in the Celtic Challenge
Ireland front rows Sadhbh McGrath (left) and Sarah Delaney were both capped as teenagers
Young City of Armagh RFC girl Sadie being presented with an award by Ireland’s Sadhbh McGrath
Sadhbh McGrath playing for Combined Provinces in the inaugural Celtic Challenge competition (Photo by John Dickson – Dickson Digital)
Selection in Ireland’s squad for this month’s World Cup is a dream come true for Sadhbh McGrath
Ulster’s Sadhbh McGrath and Munster’s Dorothy Wall at the 2023 Vodafone Championship launch
Sadhbh McGrath during training with Ireland in preparation for her first World Cup this summer (©INPHO/Tom Maher)
