The next stop for the back rower is the inaugural Women’s Summer Series in Parma, Italy, in July. For fans everywhere, it will be an exciting opportunity to see the new wave of talent in the women’s game.
Born in Galway and raised in Athlone, Faith was first drawn to tag rugby in secondary school, before quickly making the move to full-contact rugby thanks to a suggestion by her teammate’s mother. Her first club was Buccaneers Rugby Club in Athlone, where she made an immediate impact, soon being selected for the Connacht Sevens age grade team.
Despite the disruptions caused by the pandemic, Faith continued to excel, joined the Connacht U18s 15-a-side team and, in 2021, moving up to the senior squad. Now, in her third year with Connacht, she reflects on the path that has brought her here: "My family is big into sports. I started off doing basketball and athletics,” she says. “I ran the 100m with my twin brother. I got pushed straight into the wing when they saw me run, but now I’m in the back row.”
Not that her pace doesn’t come in handy today – in all forms of the game. She recently played in an all-conquering Connacht University Sevens team, which led to her selection for the Emerging Ireland Sevens squad. "I was just recently with them in France for a tournament, and it was great to be back,” says Faith. “I thought, ‘I’ve missed this so much!’ Once I have the ball it’s just go-go-go. It takes me back to my sprinting days. The wheels are going.”
And how those wheels have gone. Faith was All-Ireland League’s top try-scorer this year, touching down twelve times for Railway Union in her first season at the club she joined from Galwegians. “They’re a great bunch of girls who’ve helped me out,” she says. “This season with Railway Union has been incredible.”
Railway Union went all the way to the AIL Final this year, losing out in a thrilling seven-tries-to-six encounter with UL Bohemians. “Just being in the Aviva was unreal,” says Faith. “Hopefully we’ll be back there next year, but with a win.”
In between joining Railway Union from Galwegians, her recently completed degree in Children’s Studies allowed her to do a study exchange programme in Canada, where she got to grips with the physical North American style of play. "It was a great experience and I really enjoyed it. They want me to come back this summer, but I had my mind set on the U20s.”
That determination has paid off, with Faith part of the Irish squad for next month’s Women’s Summer Series. “I did not expect it. I saw the email and thought, ‘Oh my god’,” she recalls. “I’m so grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to go to Parma with the girls and show what we’ve got.”
A recent run-out against their English counterparts has left Ireland battle-hardened and ready for three big matches against the Red Roses, Italy and Scotland. “We have great coaches and a great bunch of girls, so I’m just hoping to learn a lot from them this Women’s Summer Series,” says Faith. “I’m striving to one day play for the senior squad, which is the end goal, and hopefully this competition can help me a lot.”
She doesn’t have to look far for role models. Former international Lindsay Peat was playing alongside Faith in this year’s AIL Final, still going strong in her forties. “I’m not just saying this because I play with her, but even before I was at Railway, I always looked up to Lindsay,” she says. “Also Dorothy Wall, because she plays in similar positions to me. I got to play alongside her in the Celtic Challenge and learnt a lot.”
Ever the keen learner, Faith’s education in rugby looks set to continue this summer in Parma.
