Niamh Gallagher
| Born | 22 November 2005[1] London, England[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Niamh Gallagher (born 22 November 2005) is an Irish rugby union footballer who plays for Trailfinders Women and the Ireland women's national rugby union team. Her preferred position is full-back.
Early and personal life
[edit]Born in London to Irish parents, Gallagher attended St Edmunds Catholic Primary School in Enfield, St Anne's School and St Ignatius College, Enfield, before studying for a sports and exercise science degree at Brunel University.[4][2][5]
Club career
[edit]Gallagher played rugby union for Enfield Tigers, the girls' rugby side connected to Enfield Ignatians, and was capped at county level for Middlesex, and captained their Under-18 side. She later trained with the Wasps Centre of Excellence, the Thames Valley Centre of Excellence, Saracens U18s and later featured for Trailfinders Women having joined the club in 2024.[4][2]
Gallagher made five appearances for Trailfinders Women in the 2024-25 season before becoming a more regular starter the following season.[6] In May 2026, she was nominated for Premiership Women's Rugby breakthrough player of the season.[7]
International career
[edit]Gallagher featured for Ireland U20s in the 2024 and 2025 Six Nations U20s Championship, and also played for Ireland U21 in 2026.[2]
In March 2026, she was called-up to the senior Ireland team for the 2026 Six Nations Championships.[4] She subsequently made her senior debut in the championship against Wales in May 2026.[8][9]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Niamh Gallagher". Irishrugby.ie. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Niamh's Trained The House Down And Deserves Her Chance' – Bemand". irishrugby.ie. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
- ↑ "Niamh Gallagher". thepwr.com. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Enfield rugby star on verge of senior Ireland cap". Enfield Dispatch. 25 March 2026. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
- ↑ "Teen rugby star from Enfield hoping to make international breakthrough". Enfield Dispatch. 16 February 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
- ↑ Harvey, Joe (12 February 2026). "'Sponge' Gallagher making the most of Trailfinders environment". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
- ↑ "Freeman nominated for Prem and England men's awards". BBC Sport. 21 May 2026. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
- ↑ "Niamh Gallagher set for Ireland debut as Eve Higgins returns to team to face Wales in Women's Six Nations". Irish Independent. 7 May 2026. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
- ↑ "Six Nations debut for Enfield Tiger's Niamh Gallagher". Enfield Independent. 11 May 2026. Retrieved 22 May 2026.