Two Six Nations championships in 24 months? Sophie Spence would snap your hand off for it.
SportsJOE caught up with the Newcastle-born Irish Women’s player, Spence, who has formed a solid second row partnership with Marie-Louise Reilly. Ireland can win their second Six Nations championship since March 2013 if they can rack up a score, on Sunday, against bottom-placed Scotland.
We started off with a look at this Sunday’s game and Ireland’s chances of claiming the title.
Last weekend’s results went well for you ladies
Italy did us a favour [by beating France]. We did a good job with Wales, not letting them in, but it’s good to know we’re the last game to be played. We’ll know what we have to do and then it’s all about our own performance and on that day if we give that performance, hopefully we’ll be successful.
We’re in a brilliant position. I’m not sure if anyone knew we were going to be in this position, it’s going to be a surprise to other people as well. But, again, it comes down to the performance we put in on Sunday and not getting ahead of ourselves — we’ve got to put in a performance.
Do you consider yourself a veteran now?
I only took it up at 21 and I think most of the girls were at a similar age. The amount of exposure you get is that little bit less. It’s just getting used to how the game is played and what you have to do. Being rugby smart is a big factor. Each game I play, I know, I’m always learning. Learning off the other girls and becoming smarter each game, but I’ve still got a lot to learn.
What sports did you play before rugby?
I played netball. Very different to rugby, no contact, but obviously there are ball skills. I played that from a young age, did a bit of athletics when I was younger, but netball was my main sport. I did it in school from about the age of seven and all the way up through school and college.
I came back from America after doing my degree and went to study again. Me and one of the girls just said ‘want to try something different?’ We decided to try rugby and a year or two after I went on an Irish Exiles camp in London. One of the girls in the club at the time brought me down and it was Goose [former Ireland coach Phillip Doyle] actually running the session – that’s how I got the interest.
What do you do away from rugby?
I am a Rugby Development Officer for DCU. My hours are quite flexible so I can work in my coaching and things I’m doing around my training. It’s good thing to be involved in because you can pull people into the sport as well.
The amount of girls coming in is really good. Rugby keeps pulling in the numbers, getting them from different sports. It does help that I’ve had some of the [international] girls down coaching as well.
On Sunday midday, you know what you need to do to top the group. Pressure off?
I would never say the pressure is off. There is probably more pressure. One thing [Ireland coach] Tom Tierney said last week was live in the occasion, don’t let pressure be a bad thing for you.
