Claire Molloy

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Claire Molloy
Date of birth (1988-06-22) 22 June 1988 (age 35) [1]
Place of birthCounty Galway, Ireland[2]
Height1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Weight68 kg (150 lb; 10 st 10 lb)
SchoolColáiste Iognáid[3][4]
UniversityCardiff University[5]
Occupation(s)Doctor
Rugby union career
Position(s) Loose forward
Current team Bristol Bears
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008–2009
2009–
2010–2018
2018-2022
2022-		 Cardiff Quins
Galwegians
Bristol Ladies
Wasps
Bristol Bears		 ()
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008–
2013–		 Connacht
Irish Exiles		 ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009– Ireland 70 50 points
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
20xx–  Ireland

Claire Molloy is an Ireland women's rugby union international from Galway. Molloy represented Ireland at the 2010, 2014 and 2017 Women's Rugby World Cups. At the 2014 tournament she was a member of the Ireland team that defeated New Zealand and she captained Ireland at the 2017 tournament. She was also a member of the Ireland teams that won the 2013 and 2015 Women's Six Nations Championships. She is also an Ireland women's rugby sevens international and captained the Ireland team at the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens. Molloy also played ladies' Gaelic football for Galway and featured in the 2005 All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship final.

Family[edit]

Molloy was raised in a sporting family. Claire's father, Evan Molloy, is a prominent member of the Colaiste Iognáid (Jez) Rowing Club. Three of her siblings have also represented Ireland at international level in different sports. Her younger brother, Tim Molloy, is a former Republic of Ireland under-19 association football international and also played for University College Dublin A.F.C. Her sister, Emily Molloy, played as a goalkeeper for the Ireland women's national field hockey team at underage level and her older brother, Liam Molloy, rowed for Ireland up to under-23 level.[6]

Gaelic football[edit]

Molloy played Ladies' Gaelic football for Galway and in 2005, aged 16, played in three finals for her county. On 30 April 2005 she played in the Ladies' National Football League final which Cork won 2–13 to 0–6.[7][8] On 25 July 2005 she played in the All-Ireland Under-18 Ladies' Football Championship (minor) final against Donegal which Galway won 5–7 to 1–8.[9] On 2 October 2005 she played in the 2005 All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship final which Cork won 1–11 to 0–8 [10] Other members of these Galway teams included Niamh Fahey and Annette Clarke.[5][8][11][12] Molloy played for Galway up to 2011.[13]

Rugby union[edit]

Clubs[edit]

Molloy switched codes from Ladies' Gaelic football to women's rugby union while attending Cardiff University where she studied medicine. She initially played for Cardiff Quins, making her debut in the WWRU National Cup final which Quins won.[5] She was also a Cardiff Quins player when she made her debut for the Ireland women's national rugby union team.[14][15] Molloy subsequently joined Bristol Ladies and on summer trips home from university she also played for Galwegians.[11][16] Together with Sarah Hunter and Carys Phillips, Molloy was one of three Bristol Ladies players to captain their countries at the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup. Hunter and Phillips captained England and Wales respectively. Molloy moved to Wasps in 2018,[17] before returning to Bristol in 2022[18]

Provincial level[edit]

Molloy has represented Connacht in the IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series.[4][11][19] She has also played for the Irish Exiles.[20][21]

Ireland international[edit]

On 6 February 2009, Molloy made her debut for the Ireland women's national rugby union team when she came on as replacement in a 7–5 win against France. This was the first time the Ireland Women had beaten France.[2][14][15] Molloy went onto represent Ireland at the 2010, 2014 and 2017 Women's Rugby World Cups. At the 2014 tournament she was a member of the Ireland team that defeated New Zealand. She captained the Ireland team at the 2017 tournament, replacing an injured Niamh Briggs. Molloy was also a member of the Ireland teams that won the 2013 and 2015 Women's Six Nations Championships.[22][23][24]

Molloy is also an Ireland women's rugby sevens international and captained the Ireland Sevens team at the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens.[2][23][24][25] She also represented the Ireland Sevens at the 2013 European Women's Sevens Grand Prix Series[26] and the 2015 Rugby Europe Women's Sevens Championships.[19]

Molloy took a break from international rugby at the start of the 2020 season to concentrate on her medical career. She returned in September 2020 in time for the rescheduled 2020 Women's Six Nations Championship game against Italy.

In the 2021 Women's Six Nations Championship she started against Wales and France but did not make the match-day 23 for the play-off game against Italy.[27]

On 28 September 2021, Molloy announced her retirement from international rugby.[28]

Doctor[edit]

Molloy is qualified as a doctor. She studied medicine at Cardiff University, where her classmates included Jamie Roberts.[5] She has worked as an A&E doctor in Abergavenny and at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.[22][29][30]

Honours[edit]

Rugby union[edit]

Ireland
Ireland Sevens
Cardiff Quins
Individual
  • 2012 Ireland Women's Player of the Year
  • 2017 Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Women's Player of the Year
    • 2017

Gaelic football[edit]

Galway

Source:[5][9][11][23][24][31]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Claire Molloy". www.bristolrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "In Pics: Claire Molloy - Ireland's WRWC 2017 Captain". www.irishrugby.ie. 2 August 2017. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  3. ^ "Coláiste Iognáid S.J. Sept, 2017" (PDF). colaisteiognaid.ie. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Four Connacht Players in Ireland Women's Squad to Face England". www.connachtrugby.ie. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Twist of fate led Claire Molloy to a rugby career with Ireland". www.irishtimes.com. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  6. ^ "Claire Molloy and her Irish International sporting siblings". galwaybayfm.ie. 9 August 2017. Archived from the original on 28 February 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  7. ^ "Cork v Galway Ladies League Final Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 30 April 2005. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  8. ^ a b "Strong Galway can retain title". www.irishtimes.com. 1 October 2005. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  9. ^ a b "Galway Claim Minor Honours". ladiesgaelic.ie. 25 July 2005. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  10. ^ "Galway v Cork - Ladies Senior Final Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 2 October 2005. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  11. ^ a b c d "Claire Molloy: The woman who gave up her All-Ireland dreams to chase a Grand Slam". www.the42.ie. 1 March 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  12. ^ "These 10 top Irish female athletes have experienced the wrath of Cork". www.the42.ie. 24 September 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  13. ^ "Dubs - Time To Rewrite The History Books!". dublinladiesgaelic.ie. 3 August 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  14. ^ a b "Clare Molloy makes Irish squad". www.connachtrugby.ie. 5 February 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  15. ^ a b "Women Secure First Ever Victory Over France". www.irishrugby.ie. 6 February 2009. Archived from the original on 29 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  16. ^ "Molloy confirmed as Ireland captain for Women's Rugby World Cup". www.connachtrugby.ie. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  17. ^ "Bristol Ladies Trio To Lead World Cup Efforts As Captains". www.bristolrugby.co.uk. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  18. ^ "Ireland International Claire Molloy returns to Bears". Bristol Bears Rugby. Retrieved 15 September 2022.
  19. ^ a b "Two Connacht players in Ireland Women's 7s Squad". www.connachtrugby.ie. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  20. ^ "Ireland announce strong squad". www.wru.co.uk. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  21. ^ "Correction: Ireland Women's Team to Play England". www.sixnationsrugby.com. 8 February 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  22. ^ a b "Ireland's Claire Molloy on life as a doctor and the time she played with the Connacht men's team". www.the42.ie. 27 November 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  23. ^ a b c "Women's Rugby World Cup: Claire Molloy named as Ireland captain". www.bbc.co.uk. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  24. ^ a b c "Claire Molloy Confirmed As Ireland Women's World Cup Captain". www.irishrugby.ie. 2 August 2017. Archived from the original on 28 February 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  25. ^ "Ireland Women's Rugby Sevens". olympics.ie. 5 September 2012. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  26. ^ "Plate Success For Ireland Women In Brive". www.irishrugby.ie. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  27. ^ Farrell, Sinead. "'She's got things she can still work on' - Griggs on omission of former Ireland captain for Italy clash". The42. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  28. ^ "Molloy Calls Time On Illustrious Career". Irishrugby.ie. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  29. ^ "Resolution-free zone - Irish rugby star Claire Molloy". www.irishexaminer.com. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  30. ^ Farrell, Sinead. "'One of the hardest things is loneliness for patients. We're used to seeing a relative hold their hand'". The42. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  31. ^ "Murray And Molloy Pick Up Rugby Writers Awards". www.irishrugby.ie. 1 November 2017. Archived from the original on 5 November 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
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