Aoibheann Reilly

Aoibheann Reilly

Reilly during the 2025 Rugby World Cup in Northampton
Date of birth	(2000-11-01) 1 November 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth	Ballinasloe, County Galway
Height	163 cm (5 ft 4 in)
School	Ardscoil Mhuire
Notable relative(s)	Colm Reilly (brother)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half Current team Blackrock College RFC Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) Blackrock College RFC (0) International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2022– Ireland 17 (0) Correct as of 24 August 2025 National sevens team Years Team Comps 2021– Ireland

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. ^[1] Her brother Colm Reilly is a scrum-half for Connacht Rugby. Her father Stephen Reilly is a former principal of Garbally College. ^[2]

Career

Reilly played domestically for Connacht before impressing for Blackrock College RFC in the All Ireland League. ^{[3] [4]}

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. ^[5] 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. ^[6]

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. ^[7] Reilly was named in Ireland's squad for the 2025 Six Nations Championship in March. ^{[8] [9]} 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. ^[10]

She was named in the Irish squad to the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England. ^{[11] [12]}

Personal life

She is a qualified sports scientist. ^[13]

References

1. "'It's something you dream of when you first start playing' - from rugby roots to Ireland's call". the42.ie. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
2. "Ballinasloe nursery's supply line to Connacht rugby continues". Connacht Tribune.
3. "From AIL to the Six Nations: the pathway to an Ireland cap made clear". Irish Times. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
4. "Debut for Aoibheann Reilly in new look Irish side". Irish Examiner. 24 March 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
5. "Ireland debutante Aoibheann Reilly buzzing to get going against Wales". punditarena.com. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
6. "Ireland Squads Named For Rugby World Cup Sevens In Cape Town". Irishrugby.ie. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
7. "Injury setbacks have built my resilience - Reilly". BBC Sport. 29 March 2025. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
8. "Bemand Names Ireland Preparation Squad For Guinness Women's Six Nations". Irish Rugby. 11 February 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
9. "Bemand announces Ireland's squad for Guinness Women's Six Nations". Six Nations Rugby. 12 February 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2025.
10. Kelly, David (29 March 2025). "'Emotional moment' as Aoibheann Reilly makes her return from long-term injury". Independent.ie. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
11. "Wafer and McMahon fit for Ireland World Cup squad". BBC Sport. 11 August 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
12. "Ireland's Squad Named For Women's Rugby World Cup 2025". Irish Rugby. 11 August 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
13. Hannigan, Mary (4 February 2024). "Meet the women's Sevens stars opening new frontiers for Irish rugby". Irish Times. Retrieved 4 February 2024.