SLIGO RUGBY LAUNCHES NEW HIGH-PERFORMANCE ERA FOR WOMEN’S RUGBY UNDER MARY HEALY

Sligo Rugby Club is delighted to announce the appointment of former Ireland, Connacht and Barbarians scrum-half Mary Healy as its new Head of Women’s High Performance. This newly created position will form part of the club’s Rugby Operations Committee, with Mary leading the continued development of Sligo Rugby’s women’s performance program. Mary will work closely with the club’s […]

Sligo Rugby Club is delighted to announce the appointment of former Ireland, Connacht and Barbarians scrum-half Mary Healy as its new Head of Women’s High Performance.

This newly created position will form part of the club’s Rugby Operations Committee, with Mary leading the continued development of Sligo Rugby’s women’s performance program.

Mary will work closely with the club’s players, coaches and rugby leadership team to raise standards across the women’s game, strengthen the pathway from underage to senior rugby, and help attract, develop and retain talented players from Sligo and across the Northwest.

A former Ireland, Barbarians and Connacht scrum-half, Mary brings extensive experience of elite women’s rugby as a player, captain, coach and program leader. She earned 14 international caps for Ireland and made 32 appearances for Connacht, whom she also captained.

Alongside her distinguished playing career, Mary has developed considerable experience in coaching and player development. She has worked with Connacht Rugby’s Women’s Emerging Talent Program as Backs, Skills and Attack Coach and has also served as Director of Women’s Rugby with Galwegians.

Sligo Rugby’s women’s program led by Gabriel Gormley has made significant progress in recent seasons, and Mary’s appointment represents a clear statement of the club’s ambition to build on that success. The long-term objective is to establish a sustainable high-performance pathway and progress towards participation in the Women’s All-Ireland League.

Women’s and Girls’ Rugby Structure

Supporting Mary in her new role will be Louise Kilbane, who has been appointed Senior Women’s and Youth Girls’ Coordinator.

Louise will oversee the strategic development of women’s and girls’ rugby within Sligo Rugby Club. She will work across the senior and underage programs to support player welfare, improve administration, communication,and strengthen the pathway between youth and adult rugby.

Gabriel Gormley will continue as Head Coach of the Senior Women’s team. Gabriel has played an important role in the development and progress of the team and will continue to lead its on-field program. Working alongside Mary and the wider coaching group, he will focus on raising performance standards, developing the playing squad, and building a strong team environment as the club takes the next step in its development.

The Senior Women’s forwards will be coached by former Sligo Rugby Club stalwart and part of last year’s set up Stanley Hunter.

We are delighted to have John Golden joining us from Ballina Rugby Club as a coach. John has coached at underage level in Ballina and will be a welcoming face for our Ballina contingent.

Nicole Fowley Returns as Kicking Coach

Sligo Rugby Club is also delighted to announce that Nicole Fowley will join Mary’s performance team as Kicking Coach.

Nicole’s appointment marks a particularly special homecoming. A native of Drumcliff, she began her rugby journey with Sligo Rugby Club before progressing to Railway Union, Galwegians, Connacht and ultimately the international stage with Ireland.

An accomplished out-half, playmaker and goal-kicker, Nicole earned 16 caps for Ireland during a ten-year international career. After making her debut against England in 2016, she represented Ireland in the Women’s Six Nations and WXV and was selected for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup squad.

Nicole has also been an outstanding leader in the provincial game, captaining and co-captaining Connacht and being named Connacht Women’s Player of the Year in 2024.

Having progressed from Sligo Rugby to the highest level of the international game, Nicole’s return provides the club’s young and senior players with a powerful example of what can be achieved.

Strength and Conditioning

Cian McBride joins the club as Strength and Conditioning Coach for the coming season.

Having previously worked with Sligo Rovers and Sligo GAA, Cian brings valuable experience from high-performance sporting environments. He will oversee the strength and conditioning programs for both the Senior Women and U18 Girls, helping to create a consistent physical-development pathway between the two squads.

Senior Management

Former player and captain Jo Williams will also join the management team alongside Aidan Lawley and Jean McConnell. Their experience and commitment will provide important support to the players and coaching staff throughout the season.

U18 Girls’ Program

John Garvey has been appointed Head Coach of the U18 Girls and will be supported by current Senior Women’s player Aisling Feely and Liam Filan. Stephen Daly will join them as their manager.

The U18 Girls will be more closely aligned with the Senior Women’s program this season, creating a clearer and more consistent pathway for emerging players.

This structure will give the club’s young players greater exposure to the standards, coaching methods, and physical preparation associated with a high-performance environment. It will also help prepare them for the transition into senior rugby while allowing both squads to develop a shared playing identity and culture.

Head of Performance and Retention for Sligo Rugby Club Ross O’ Boyle says: ‘’ The new structure represents a significant investment in the future of female rugby at the club and reflects Sligo Rugby’s ambition to become a leading center for the development of women’s and girls’ rugby in the North West.

The club believes these appointments will have a hugely positive impact on the program, provide an exciting pathway for aspiring players and inspire more women and girls from across the region to become involved in rugby and I am delighted to welcome all those joining the women’s and girls’ program for the coming season.’’

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