Aoibheann Reilly

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Aoibheann Reilly

| image =

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| birth_name =

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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1 November 2000}}

| birth_place = Ballinasloe, County Galway

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| height =163cm

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| school = Ardscoil Mhuire

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| relatives = Colm Reilly (brother)

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| ru_position =Scrum-half

| ru_currentteam = Blackrock College RFC

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| clubs1 = Blackrock College RFC

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| repyears1 = 2022–

| repteam1 = Ireland

| repcaps1 =12

| reppoints1 =0

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| ru_sevensnationalyears1 = 2021–

| ru_sevensnationalteam1 = Ireland

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Aoibheann Reilly (born 1 November 2000) is an Irish rugby union player. She represents Ireland at 15-a-side and Sevens rugby as a scrum-half.

Early life

Reilly began playing rugby for the Ballinasloe U12 Community Games team. She has been a long time teammate and friend of Beibhinn Parsons having attended primary and secondary school together before going on to play rugby for Ireland together.{{Cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/aoibheann-reilly-5720322-Mar2022/%3Famp%3D1|title= 'It's something you dream of when you first start playing' - from rugby roots to Ireland's call|website=the42.ie|accessdate=21 April 2025}} Her brother Colm Reilly is a scrum-half for Connacht Rugby. Her father Stephen Reilly is a former principal of Garbally College.{{cite news|url=https://connachttribune.ie/ballinasloe-nurserys-supply-line-to-connacht-rugby-continues/|title=Ballinasloe nursery’s supply line to Connacht rugby continues|publisher=Connacht Tribune}}

Career

Reilly played domestically for Connacht before impressing for Blackrock College RFC in the All Ireland League.{{Cite web|url= https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/from-ail-to-the-six-nations-the-pathway-to-an-ireland-cap-made-clear-1.4837252|title=From AIL to the Six Nations: the pathway to an Ireland cap made clear|website=Irish Times|accessdate=21 April 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/arid-40835858.html|title=Debut for Aoibheann Reilly in new look Irish side|website=Irish Examiner|accessdate=21 April 2025}}

She was named in the starting XV for Ireland for the first time in March 2022 in the Women's Six Nations Championship test match against Wales.{{Cite web|url=https://www.punditarena.com/rugby/eoin-harte/ireland-aoibheann-reilly-buzzing-wales/%3F|title= Ireland debutante Aoibheann Reilly buzzing to get going against Wales|website=punditarena.com|accessdate=21 April 2025}} She was named as part of the Ireland sevens team for the Rugby Sevens World Cup held in Cape Town, South Africa in September 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/2022/09/06/ireland-squads-named-for-rugby-world-cup-sevens-in-cape-town|title=Ireland Squads Named For Rugby World Cup Sevens In Cape Town|website=Irishrugby.ie|accessdate=21 April 2025}}

Reilly suffered her first serious knee injury to her cruciate ligament in the autumn of 2023 and having come back to full fitness then suffered a second ACL tear in the 2024 SVNS Grand Final in Madrid, ruling her out of the 2024 Olympic Games. She returned to action in March 2025.{{cite web|title=Injury setbacks have built my resilience - Reilly|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cd0n18kznjro|date=29 March 2025|accessdate=21 April 2025|website=BBC Sport}} Reilly was named in Ireland's squad for the 2025 Six Nations Championship in March.{{Cite web |date=11 February 2025 |title=Bemand Names Ireland Preparation Squad For Guinness Women's Six Nations |url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/2025/02/11/bemand-names-ireland-preparation-squad-for-guinness-womens-six-nations/ |access-date=19 March 2025 |website=Irish Rugby}}{{Cite web |date=12 February 2025 |title=Bemand announces Ireland's squad for Guinness Women's Six Nations |url=https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/en/w6n/news/bemand-announces-irelands-squad-for-guinness-womens-six-nations |access-date=19 March 2025 |website=Six Nations Rugby}} She made her comeback in an Ireland shirt as a replacement during Ireland’s opening Six Nations fixture against France in Belfast. The following week she returned to the starting line-up for their fixture away against Italy.{{cite web|url= https://m.independent.ie/sport/rugby/emotional-moment-as-aoibheann-reilly-makes-her-return-from-long-term-injury/a669734593.html|website=Independent.ie|accessdate=21 April 2025|title= ‘Emotional moment’ as Aoibheann Reilly makes her return from long-term injury|first=David|last=Kelly|date=29 March 2025}}

Personal life

She is a qualified sports scientist.{{cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/2024/02/04/womens-sevens-stars-opening-new-frontiers-for-irish-rugby/|access-date=4 February 2024|website=Irish Times|title= Meet the women’s Sevens stars opening new frontiers for Irish rugby|date=4 February 2024|first=Mary|last=Hannigan}}

References