Munster women's skill coach Fiona Hayes impressed with rising stars

MUNSTER Rugby women's skill coach, Fiona Hayes, has been impressed with the young talent that has been coming up through the squad in recent years. 

During their first fixture in this year's interprovincial series, four of the province's squad made their senior Munster debuts. 

Brianna Heylmann, Jane Clohessy, Abbie Salter-Townshend and Ellen Boylan all made an appearance during the impressive win over Ulster in Armagh last weekend. 

Hayes, a former Irish international, has seen the competitive levels at training rise as new players have continued to join the squad. 

"The talent has just grown in the last few years and these players have been coming into camp and absolutely going after that starting jersey. The competitive level at training has been immense, I've been around a while both playing and coaching and I have to say this years group are one of the best I've seen," Fiona Hayes said.

The Limerick native who was announced as women's head coach at UL Bohemian ahead of the 2023/24 season is excited to play Connacht on the fast surface of Musgrave Park this Saturday, 3.15pm, live on TG4.

Hayes continued: "The team down in Cork has been so good to women's provincial and international rugby. For us it is a home game and on the 4G the players like playing on it because it brings up the speed of the game.

"Briggsy has really tried to bring up the pace of our players and the skill set has to come up with that, so we are really pushing ourselves to get this first win at home."