Miller answers Ireland's call
Laois woman Alison Miller will become the latest Portlaoise RFC player to don the Irish jersey, as she lines out with the Irish ladies rugby team in their 6 Nations opener with Italy in Ashbourne RFC this Friday night.
It is the latest step in what has been a meteoric rise through the sport for Miller, who only started playing rugby with Portlaoise last year. She quickly set about making waves with them as her free-scoring performances on the wing signalled her ability, and it hasn't taken long for her talent to be recognised on the international stage. A trial with the Leinster Ladies team didn't work out, but having spotted an open invitation for trials on the Connaught rugby website, she went along and impressed enough to be offered a spot with the western province. Having featured in the interprovincial games with them, scoring a try against Ulster, she caught the eye of the Irish management and has been rewarded with a place on the Irish team.
Despite now featuring for Connaught she is still lining out with Portlaoise, and her coach, Gordon Matthews, has no reservations about her ability to make the step up to International level. "She's a great athlete, she's very strong and her attitude and determination is outstanding.
"Knowing her, I'd say she will be nervous but I have no doubt she has the ability to do well. She has buckets of pace and she has played intercounty football as well so being out on the field is nothing strange to her."
Alison, a daughter of former Laois footballer and manager Bobby Miller (RIP), currently teaches in St Leo's College in Carlow, has proven to be a success at whatever sport she has turned her hand to. Having originally started out in athletics, she took up football at 21 and soon made the Laois ladies team, going on to win a Leinster title in her time with the county. Her first introduction to rugby was when she was in college in Waterford IT, but took a year away from the sport before returning to play with Portlaoise last year.
Ireland begin their quest for a first ever 6 Nations title against Italy in Ashbourne RFC this Friday night, having achieved their highest ever finish last year by coming in third. After the Italy game, they face a difficult trip to France a week later in what will be a very tough away encounter. The French, who dominated the first four years of the Ladies 6 Nations, have not been as strong in recent years, with Ireland finishing above them for the first time in 2009.
Things don't get much easier for Ireland after the France game, as they face their second away game of the competition against a formidable English side, winners of the competition for the last four years. After that, Ireland enjoy two more home games, both in Ashbourne, against Wales and Scotland.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Weather for Portlaoise
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
