Ulster aiming to continue upward momentum, says Tuite
Women’s Interpros
Daire Walsh
Ulster’s Fiona Tuite has said the opening round of the Interprovincial Championship this weekend serves as the beginning of what she anticipates will be an exciting season for women’s rugby in Ireland.
Following tomorrow’s visit to Munster at Virgin Media Park in Cork, Tuite and her Ulster colleagues will play host to both Connacht and Leinster in Kingspan Stadium before remaining on Belfast soil for a Women’s Interpros finals day on August 31.
Dublin native Tuite (who recently got engaged to Ulster men’s front-row Eric O’Sullivan) is also hoping to be involved when Ireland play host to Australia in an international test at Kingspan on September 14.
Scott Bemand’s side will then head off to the WXV 1 tournament shortly after that game and with next year’s Rugby World Cup in England also on the horizon, Tuite is excited by what lies in wait.
“We’re kind of kicking off now this season with this [the Interpros] and it’s going to be a good run into it,” Tuite remarked.
“We’ve that game in Kingspan against Australia and then I’m pretty sure it’s the following week that the squad will head off to Canada for WXV 1. It’s exciting, this really is the start of everything.”
Yet Tuite’s focus for now is on the Women’s Interpros and after ending a 11-year wait for a win of any description in the competition by defeating Connacht in a play-off for a third place last year, she believes Ulster are capable of causing further upsets this time around.
“We had that historic win against Connacht last year and that has set the benchmark for us now.
“We’re not dipping below that. In our eyes and I hope everyone else’s eyes, we’re going in as third in this.
“This year then is when we push on to now challenge Leinster and Munster,” Tuite added.