Tyrrell hoping to get another shot at 10 for Ireland
By Daire Walsh
CLONDALKIN native Hannah Tyrrell enjoyed a new lease of life on the Ireland women’s rugby team when they returned to Six Nations action earlier this year.
Previously used as either a full-back or a winger, Tyrrell was named at out-half for the team’s Six Nations clash with Italy at Donnybrook back in October.
The former Shamrock Rovers soccer star played her part in a 21-7 success for Ireland, contributing conversions to first half tries from Lindsay Peat and Claire Molloy.
Ireland have since been drawn to face United States, Canada and an Asian qualifier in the pool stages of the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand should they make the cut from the European qualifiers and Tyrrell is hopeful of playing a part especially after having tasted the out-half role.
“Adam [Griggs, Ireland’s head coach] had mentioned that to me a good few months ago, the possibility of playing there” Tyrrell told The Echo.
“We’d kind of been hemming and hawing about it, but he mentioned to me again that it could be a possibility of playing 10. I quite enjoyed it. Something very different,” Tyrrell acknowledged.
“There’s a lot more space in the back-three, particularly full-back where you’re waiting for the kicks to come in to get your hands on the ball.
“At 10 you’re a lot more directly involved, which I really liked. I got stuck in on the defensive side, which was pretty enjoyable to be honest. Look forward to hopefully getting another opportunity there and seeing how I get on.”
Ireland were gearing up to contest the World Cup qualifier tourna-ment against Scotland, Italy and either Russia or Spain in December, but that has since been pushed back.
The winner will secure a berth in Pool B of the tournament while a runner-up finish would preserve their hopes of qualification.
Indeed in that case, the team would progress to a qualification tournament against the runners-up from Oceania, Asia and the winners of a play-off between Kenya and Colombia.
The winner of that tournament would then secure the final qualification spot that would see them take on Wales, New Zealand and Australia in Pool A.
Irish women’s rugby has been enjoying a strong surge in popularity in recent years with the team’s home games twice breaking the record for a standalone women’s rugby international in Ireland during 2019.
Yet their long-delayed Six Nations fourth round tie against the Italians was played behind closed doors due to Covid-19 restrictions.
While the game itself felt like business as usual, Tyrrell admits it was quite eerie in the ground both before and after the contest.
“Once you get into the swing of things in a game, you barely recognise or hear the crowd. Only at the quiet moments. It definitely was weird lining up for the national anthem and there being nobody there.
“Or afterwards, not being able to go see friends and family like you normally would. Once you get into the swing of things, you don’t really recognise it too much.”
Ireland were initially expected to finish out their Six Nations campaign against France but that game is among the three ties that Six Nations Rugby were forced to cancel.