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02 Oct 2025
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02 Oct 2025
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Top: Ireland Touch Rugby Mixed 15s. Bottom Left: Jack Delaney and his Irish teammates with their bronze medals. Bottom Right: Ireland Touch Rugby Girls 18s
A Laois rugby player has helped Ireland secure a historic Bronze Medal at the 2025 Atlantic Youth Touch Cup, the largest international youth Touch Rugby tournament ever held in Ireland.
The event saw 45 teams from 12 countries descend on the University of Limerick, but it was Jack Dempsey from Borris-in-Ossory who had one of the standout performances for Ireland.
Jack, a member of the Ireland Boys 15s team, helped his side claim third place with a 10-2 victory over Lebanon in the Bronze Medal play-off. Despite being part of a squad where 15 of the 16 players were making their international debuts, Jack and his teammates showed remarkable skill and team spirit throughout the tournament. The Boys 15s narrowly missed out on a higher finish after a tight 7-6 defeat to Wales. Jack, who plays rugby for Roscrea RFC and Cistercian College, impressed with his strong defensive performances and prepared for the tournament by training with Buccaneers Touch Rugby in Athlone.
Laois had further representation in the tournament with Erin Fitzpatrick from Mountrath on the Girls 18s team and Keelin O’Brien from Ballyroan on the Ireland Mixed 15s.
Erin, who recently started playing Touch Rugby and represents Portlaoise RFC and the North Midlands regional team, gained invaluable international experience despite the Girls 18s missing out on a medal due to narrow defeats to South Africa and Wales.
Keelin also impressed on the wing for the Mixed 15s, helping Ireland record victories over Belgium, Portugal, and the England Lions. A narrow 9-8 quarter-final defeat to Scotland saw the team settle for fifth place, with Keelin scoring four tries across the tournament. She plays her club rugby with Portlaoise RFC and also represents Kilkenny College.
All three Laois players showcased their talent on an international stage, making the county proud. Anyone interested in trying Touch Rugby can join sessions on Thursday nights from 8pm at Portlaoise RFC. Contact Lynn on 0867980744 for more details.
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