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Preview | Ulster Women v Leinster Women (A)

6th August 2025

Murray Houston's side will be aiming to continue their momentum from last year's interprovincial championship, where the team showed they could be a competitive side against their provincial rivals despite a fourth placed finish.

With a number of Ulster players away such as Brittany Hogan, Fiona Tuite and Sadhbh McGrath on Ireland World Cup duty, this campaign offers new talent a chance to make their mark in the Ulster jersey.

Exciting 24 year-old hooker, India Daley, steps up to take the captaincy ahead of the Championship after her impressive try-scoring performances last year.

Having gained experienced with the Ireland Under-20s and the Celtic Challenge-winning Wolfhounds, the versatile forward, who can also play in the back row, won the Ulster Women’s Junior Cup with Enniskillen in 2024.

The experienced and reliable second row, Brenda Barr, is named as the team's vice captain.

In a refreshed 2025-26 squad, there are eight new players brought into the fold, as Houston looks to build a strong unit for the campaigns ahead with Siobhán Sheerin, Sophie McAllister, Katie Gilmour, Farrah Cartin-McCloskey, Georgia Boyce, Rebecca Beacom, and Cara McLean all hoping to gain their first caps.

There is also a welcome boost for Ulster, with flying winger, Niamh Marley, and exciting Ireland U20s centre prospect, Tara O'Neill, back after injuries last year.

Where to watch

Sunday's Round 1 opener and every match of the Vodafone Interprovincial Championship will be shown live on TG4's Youtube Channel.

The opposition

Reigning champions, Leinster, are led by new Head Coach, Ben Martin, who named a 30 player squad for the series. Molly Boyne captains the squad, with Jade Gaffney as vice-captain.

Hannah O’Connor, who has retired at provincial level after captaining Leinster to back-to-back Interprovincial crowns last season, is a notable absentee from the squad, but there is still plenty of experience in the mix with the likes of Nikki Caughey, Aoife Moore and Clodagh Dunne named.

Former Ulster back, Ella Durkan, will face her former side in Leinster colours this interpro championship.

Last time out

Ulster's previous interprovincial championship clash against Leinster was a 14-39 loss against the eventual champions in Belfast.

A converted Brittany Hogan try made the scoreline close going into the break at 7-14.

However, the second half saw Leinster's powerful international pack assert their dominance on proceedings and stretch their lead. Brittany Hogan would power over for her second score of the match, and Abby Moyles' conversion put 14 points on the board for Ulster.

Ultimately a defeat, but one that showed Ulster could compete well against a team stacked with international players.

Players to watch

Lucy Thompson

Named the Ulster Rugby 2024/25 Young Women's Player of the Year, Lucy is a skilful backline player, capable of playing on the wing, centre or at full-back. She is a strong reader of the game, and has a quick turn of pace, making her a major attacking threat for her province.

Last campaign, she scored a stunning solo effort against Connacht in a 25-25 draw in Belfast, showing her speed and ability to finish under pressure.

Lucy Thompson tearing it up on the wing 💥 pic.twitter.com/ju2w6nBDUX
— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) August 19, 2024

Rachael McIlroy

A quick-thinking scrum-half, Rachael hopes to continue her fine form into the 2025-26 interprovincial championship, after being a key member of the Queen's University side who secured the Women’s Junior Cup title last season.

Rachael's speed of ball and passing accuracy around rucks gives her team good attacking opportunities. This combined with her sniping runs into space, gives the team a good attacking springboard.

Maebh Clenghan

An exciting young hooker with bags of potential, Maebh, has had a very strong season with Queen's University and heads into the interpro championship on top form, after being involved with Ireland U20s in the Summer Series.

Maebh has been a part of the Ulster age-grade set-up since 2019 and is aiming to make her mark with the Senior side this summer, after making her debut in 2023 against Munster.

Tara O'Neill

A rising star in the Ulster side, Tara has went from strength to strength in the early stages of her career. A former captain of Assumption Grammar School in the Girl's Schools Cup, Tara made a huge impression last year, in what was her first campaign as a senior women's player.

She showed her physicality on her debut, scoring a try in the interprovincial opener against Munster. Her campaign was cruelly cut short with a shoulder injury, but she goes into the championship in good form after playing well for Ireland U20s in the Summer Series.