Eliza and Lauren prepare for World Cup

Eliza is no stranger to sporting excellence, demonstrated by her achievements in Gaelic football. She has played for her county team for 10 years, and captained her team to win All Ireland Division 2. She has also represented her Gaelic provincial team for 4 years.

Thankfully however for women's rugby, Eliza was talent spotted by the Ulster coaching staff whilst she was playing 10's for UUJ at the Carrick Tournament in 2009. Since then she has secured her place in the Ulster women's rugby team, despite her relative inexperience in rugby. Being aware of the need to learn the sport quickly she has worked hard to secure her position, playing in Division One for Cooke at full back, and has played a pivotal role in her clubs success over the last two seasons. She was then subsequently invited to Irish training after standing out at the inter-provincials and club, with her speed and elusive qualities making a real impression on all.

Lauren Day is in her third season of playing tight head prop for Cooke WRFC in AIL Division One. She also represents Ulster in tight head prop position. She broke onto the Irish panel late 2008, and received her first cap in the 2009 Six Nations championships against Scotland. She has just completed participating in this season 2010 Six Nations Championships, getting her first start in the green jersey against England, and went on to start in the remaining two Six Nations matches against Scotland and Wales. She currently has six caps, but hopes to extend this should she secure her position for the up and coming World Cup in August 2010.

Laurens' rise to the Irish squad has been a speedy one, and is a reflection of the hard work and effort she has put in since coming to rugby. Although clearly talented when she started playing rugby at the age of 22, however that alone would not have been enough to break into the Irish set-up, nor earn a starting jersey! She has worked tirelessly at her fitness programme which involves up to 5 sessions a week, as well as attending her club and provincial training, and Irish camp training. She brings a professional attitude and work ethic to training at all the levels she participates in, being a positive role model for her team mates. She is also notably a great ambassador for the sport in general, and is often one of the first to welcome new comers to her club and meet and great players throughout the country.

Both players were part of the victorious Cooke WRFC side in the Carrick 10's. The competition took place over the May Bank Holiday, with Cooke emerging victorious for the second year in a row.

The ladies will hope to play some part in the practice matches against Scotland in July with a further practice match against Wales in early August. The squad will travel to England for the start of the tournament on the 16th of August.