FORMER WORLD RUGBY Player of the Year nominee Sophie Spence has announced her retirement from international rugby.
The powerful second row made her debut for Ireland in 2012 before helping Philip Doyle’s side to a Grand Slam success and a Six Nations Championship either side of the sensational World Cup display in 2014 that included the historic victory over the Black Ferns.
The 30-year-old, who coaches through her own academy for girls, was a notable absentee from Adam Griggs’ first squad in charge of the international side. And just over two hours after the 38-strong group for the Six Nations was unveiled, Spence released her own statement:
It is with regret that I am announcing my retirement. I had hoped to finish my career after playing in one last Six Nations, but it is not to be. I have been incredibly proud to pull on the Irish jersey and to play for Ireland alongside such talented team-mates.”
Spence signed off with the hope that women’s rugby can attain an equal level of respect as it moves forward and called for greater development in the structures that under-pin the senior grade.
“The women’s game is at a critical junction and I hope to see it driven forward and to receive equal level of respect and treatment of players as the men’s game.
“We need development of the game at underage and U20 level. Through the Rugby Academy that I run across the country I see that the appetite is there, we just need to give young girls the opportunity to learn and develop their skills in the sport.”
There is realistically 4 or 5 could win it, very hard to call
Not unless the format has changed…only one team can win it.
I think everyone will agree with me that they’ll be happy if Donegal don’t win it again, apart from Donegal people of course!
Bad feeling that Kerry haven’t shown their hand yet! I think they’ve got a lot of talent up front but are a little suspect in defence which may cost them.
Team I would least like to see win it is Donegal, I really can’t watch them anymore and I don’t want to have to listen to that plague Jim McGuinness anymore.
yep Kerry are dangerous in times like this. No one really talking about them is exactly how they like it. I reckon Cavan are in for an almighty thumping on Sunday
Yeah there’s nobody talking about them which is very worrying. An under the radar Kerry team is something to be very frightened of.
Mayo for Sam!
Where have I heard that before?
Dublin end of story…. We will steam roll our way to Sam, great football team, great people & a great city
Coola-Boolah, Happy Days, Deadly, Roast Beef sambos, gargle & gee everywhere
I think there’s a lot of hearts voting here. Cavan getting over five times the votes as Tyrone. If this is to go by, people believe a cork double is more likely than a Dublin one. That just shows the media hype of Dublin, I haven’t heard cork been mentioned for a double even though their thereabouts every year.
where exactly is this media hype that so many people like to lazily quote? Its been bad in years gone by but I think most Dublin fans and indeed the media are realistic about Dublin’s chances this year
Sunday. Full back page of the Herald. Dublin 10/1 to do the double. Just because you may be unaware if if Emmett doesn’t mean it isn’t there as per usual.
*of it
not you again!
Iv read it on this, iv read in papers, heard it mentioned several times on the Sunday game and read it in the comments by the public. I literally have not read or seen any mention of cork doing the double this year. That’s the difference..
I would imagine Cork’s performance against Kerry and their recent win over Galway have dampened any realistic hope of going all the way. Add to that their poor league form (they lost 4 games) compared to Dublin’s form (unbeaten in championship and lost 1 league game) and you start to realise why Dublin’s odds are a lot shorter than Cork’s
I reckon the hurling could be Cork’s though. That JBM is some fella
I don’t think cork will do the double unfortunately, after a few years you realise how hard it is to win. We have two in a 123 year’s. But everyone has to remember the championship starts now and this weekend will tell a lot. Then the hype can begin..
I also disagree with this balderdash about the media love-in with the Dubs, someone quoted the Herald which happens to be a Dublin paper. Do you honestly think the regional rags from the other counties involved aren’t biased towards their own county? Are you trying to tell me that the Sunday Game only use panelists who once wore the blue of Dublin? Get a grip lads, 1/3 of the population live in the greater Dublin area and most of the National media is based there.
Dublin will win and are favourites but ya won’t see that on this graph as there are too many begrudges
Yeah the favourites always win don’t they
Favs to choke !!
Get over it! there are not that many begrudgers of Dublin. yer like Man United fans thinking that everyone cant stand ye and always wants to see ye lose. Dublin aint winning this poll because maybe not that many people think dublin will actually win the all-ireland!
I agree with u Chris. I’m a Leitrim man, but I’m a fan of the dubs, the style of football they play, and I don’t understand all the animosity towards them. Just because the media hype them up, that’s not their fault. I’m shouting for Mayo (as a Connaught man), but I can’t see past the Dubs.
are people that gullible to think that polls are a fair reflection of anything? the IQ levels are not high in here. :(
exactly, what do the poles know about Gaelic Games…..
Tis a fool who writes off Kerry… Personally, I think Fitzmaurice is praying for Mayo to beat Donegal as Kerry have always had massive problems with the Ulster defensive system, and absolutely none with Mayo! Those cute hoors have a plan for the dubs as well
Agree with you Jack, I’m a Dub and have been around long enough to realise that you write the Kingdom off at your peril.
Its all on the day, look at the forecast for the weekend wind, rain maybe tornados!!!
Dublin, Cork or Kerry, who ever wins the Dublin/Cork game play the winners of Kerry/Cavan and I’d expect that to be Kerry, so one of those three in my humble opinion.
although i would love to see cavan win it, its beyond us this year but there is an all ireland for us in the next 5 years. i can see tyrone or mayo winning this year.
lol
Couldn’t agree more Chris. Dublin now at 29%. May not win it but their chances of winning it are obviously higher
Haha good one lump.