MAJOR AWARD FOR BUCCANEERS FEMALE SECTION – Buccaneers R.F.C

BUCCANEERS SECURE £10K FUNDING AWARD FROM ROYAL LONDON’S WOMEN & GIRLS’ RUGBY AWARD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BRITISH & IRISH LIONS

Buccaneers RFC is proud to announce that it has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious Royal London Championing Women’s and Girls’ Rugby Award, in partnership with The British & Irish Lions. This recognition celebrates the club’s commitment to developing female rugby, fostering inclusion, and building a vibrant pathway for women and girls in sport.

Committed to ensuring that women and girls of all ages and backgrounds feel welcomed, supported, and inspired to play rugby, Buccaneers RFC actively promotes the game through outreach in primary and secondary schools, community groups, sports partnership groups and youth organisations. The club also cross pollinates with other sports, offering fun and inclusive ‘give rugby a try’ sessions designed to break down barriers and spark interest. Female coaches, mentors and international role models from Buccaneers RFC provide a visible and achievable pathway, showing that rugby is for everyone, regardless of culture, ability or experience.

Amy O’Connor, Senior Women’s Team Manager at Buccaneers RFC, said: “Winning the Championing Women and Girls’ Rugby Award and its €11,800* (£10k) grant will transform how we support our female players. Every Buccaneers athlete, from minis to seniors, will benefit from enhanced welfare initiatives, improved facilities, and greater opportunities to thrive both on and off the pitch. This funding will help us increase participation and retention, support parents and guardians with education and resources, and demonstrate our commitment to excellence in rugby.

“At Buccaneers RFC, we don’t just celebrate our women’s and girls’ teams — we honour and elevate them. This is not just an investment in sport — it’s an investment in people, in equality, and in the future of women’s rugby in our region.”

Susie Logan, Group Chief Marketing Officer at Royal London, comments: “As Founding Partner of The British & Irish Lions Women’s Team, we’re proud to continue to work with the Lions on our Championing Women and Girls’ Rugby Award.

“The decision of which club to award in each of the unions is getting more difficult as there are so many amazing applications. The amount of work, time and effort being put in across women’s and girls’ rugby clubs by coaches, players, parents and club volunteers is phenomenal. We are committed to playing our part in shaping the future of women’s rugby, and I can’t wait to see what the winning clubs will do with the funds to make a difference to their players and their communities.”

The Championing Women & Girls’ Rugby Award is a flagship element of Royal London’s sponsorship as Founding Partner of the first ever British & Irish Lions Women’s Team. One winning club in each Home Union receives a trophy and a €11,800* (£10k) to invest in their women’s and girls’ rugby programmes. Alongside the grassroots award, the sponsorship includes a ‘Levelling the Playing Field’ investment of £3 million, which is designed to inspire more women and girls to participate in rugby and to foster equality and opportunity at every level of the game.
-ENDS-
Notes to editors:
*Approximate figure based on 6 June 2025 GBP to EUR exchange rate
About Buccaneers:
• Currently at 22 teams, including eight dedicated to girls and women
• Buccaneers RFC has established a complete pathway for female rugby, from our youngest Leprechauns (U-6) to Senior Women’s teams.
• Over 155 female players now call Buccaneers home, supported by a passionate network of coaches, volunteers, and families.
• Based at Dubarry Park, Athlone
For more information about the Championing Women and Girls’ Rugby Award and Royal London’s commitment to women’s sport, visit: Our partnerships – Royal London

Please contact:
Nicki Parry
PR Manager
Mobile: 07919 170 043
Email: Nicki.Parry@royallondon.com including: Pressoffice@royallondon.com

About Royal London
Royal London is the largest mutual life, pensions and investment company in the UK, and in the top 30 mutuals globally*, with assets under management of £181bn, 8.1 million policies in force and over 4,800 employees. Figures quoted are as at 30 June 2025.
Royal London supports partnerships aligned to its values as a purpose-driven, modern mutual. This includes our work as the only Founding Partner of the first British & Irish Lions Women’s Team, where we are investing in women’s and girls’ rugby across both grassroots and elite levels to support the development of the next generation of players and coaches.
Learn more at royallondon.com.
*Based on total 2022 premium income. ICMIF Global 500, 2024

GIRLS RUGBY GROWING STRONGLY AT BUCCS

The club is proud of the positive developments in Buccaneers Girls Youth Rugby, which is going from strength to strength and at the half-way point in their respective leagues both our U-14 and U-16 Girls are topping Connacht 1A Leagues. We have a long way to go but are in a nice position!

These positive developments are testament to the club’s commitment to female rugby from our Minis Rugby to U-18.5 and Senior Women.
At youths, Buccaneers benefit from our close ties and involvement with Girls Schools Rugby in Athlone at Colaiste Chiarán, Athlone Community College and Our Lady’s Bower All three are now fielding Girls Rugby Teams.

We also have 5 players who recently won Junior Leinster 7’s with Moate CS, namely Mila Fralkova, Kate Mallon, Saoirse Trainor, Emily Galvin and Molly Quinn.

We have 8 Girl Youths players who are selected to train with Connacht Provincial Talent Squads:- Eliza Mallon, Kate Mallon and Jemma Eivers at Connacht U-16 and Chloe O’Connor, Mila Fralkiova, Cora Heneghan, Sally Fleming and Rose Fleming for Connacht U-18’s .
We are looking forward to watching this group’s development and having more of our players joining Connacht in 2026 and hopefully following in the footsteps of our International star Anna McGann!

Buccaneers are always open for new players and it’s a great time to ‘Give Girls Rugby a Try’ – especially girls Date of Birth 2012/ 2013 for our U-14 Squad. Training 7.30 to 8.30pm Mondays and Wednesdays at Dubarry Park Training Pitch. We will play two matches U-15 Development & U-16 at home in a friendly v Mullingar, Kick-off 11am & 12.15pm on 20th December to round a very successful year for all involved with Buccaneers Girls Rugby.