The draw for this season's Suzanne Fleming Cup has taken place at Affidea Stadium.
The draw was conducted by Aine Doran, Chair of the Ulster Rugby Women’s and Girls Committee, and Greg Irwin, President of IRFU Ulster Branch.
Aine opened proceedings by welcoming representatives from competing clubs before praising the work of the clubs that has helped to raise the strength of the local women’s and girl’s games.
“Thank you all for taking time out of what I know are your very busy days for you all, and it’s great to see pretty much every club represented and entering into the cups.
“I think it’s a great sign of the strength of where we are it in the women’s game now, where clubs are not only able to enter leagues, but cups as well.
“And we’ve seen that over the last few weeks in the leagues of how competitive those opening matches have been. We’re not seeing big runaway victories; everything is very close and competitive, and that’s a real sign of growth of the women’s game over the last few seasons.
“And I know from my own experience that doesn’t happen overnight. That’s down to all the hard work being done in your clubs through coaches and volunteers, and it’s appreciated by everyone at Ulster Rugby.”
Ulster Branch President Greg Irwin spoke of his pride at seeing clubs from all corners of the province.
“It’s a very exciting time as all roads lead to the 14th March. The thing that makes me the most excited and most prod is that around this room, there are representatives from clubs from all over our nine-county province.
“My whole theme this year, is to push the idea that we are a nine-county province. It’s really nice to see all clubs representing the nine-counties.
“So, it’s an exciting time and I wish you all well for the competition.”
Last year’s beaten finalists, City of Armagh begin this year’s journey with an away tie against Letterkenny, and team captain Kaitlyn Graham says the team is keen to build on last season’s experiences to go one step further this year.
“It would be excellent,” said Graham on the prospect of reaching back-to-back finals.
“We didn’t have a women’s team a few years ago, so it was a big thing to get the women’s team back up and running again. And to get to the Suzanne Flemming Final in our first season as an official team was massive.
“We were proud just of reaching the final, we were happy no matter what the outcome, we were just so proud to get there.
“So, I think to go that extra step further would be fantastic, and the club have been brilliant to us. So, to bring that cup home would be phenomenal.”
Suzanne Fleming Cup
Preliminary Round
Tie to be played Sunday 18th October
Queens University 2XV v Strabane
First Round Draw
Ties to be played on Sunday 29th November
Ballynahinch v Coleraine
Lisburn v Dungannon
Letterkenny v City of Armagh
Portadown v City of Derry
Omagh v Ophir
Belfast Harlequins v Monaghan
North Down v Lurgan
Queens University 2XV/Strabane v Randalstown
Details were also confirmed for this year's Women’s Junior Cup.
Due to their involvement in the All-Ireland Junior Cup, both Malone and Queens University received byes to the semi-final stage.
This leaves the remaining four teams, Virginia, Clogher Valley, Banbridge and Ballymena will be fighting it out for the two remaining semi-final spots in a round robin with the first round of fixtures taking place this Sunday.
Teams finishing first and second after their three games will join Queens University and Malone in the final four.
After lifting the Suzanne Fleming Cup last season, Ballymena flanker Christy Hill says that she and her teammates can’t wait for the challenges that lay ahead in the Junior cup.
“We’re a club, that we know that we have the ability to perform, but we maybe would’ve suffered a little bit with imposter syndrome,” said Hill who also lined out for Ulster this summer.
“So, winning the Suzanne Fleming Cup after Clogher beating us the year before it was great.
“It was great for morale, and it’s shown us that we can compete in the Premiership after winning the cup, so it has had a really positive effect on the club.
“You know, you can’t grow unless your challenged, so we are really excited to grow through being challenged, but I do believe we deserve to be there, and I think we’ll make a good mark and surprise a few people.”
Women’s Junior Cup Opening Fixtures
Ties to be played Sunday 18th October
Virginia v Clogher Valley
Banbridge v Ballymena