Hannah Tyrrell


Hannah Tyrrell is an Ireland women's rugby union international. Tyrrell represented Ireland at the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup. She was also a member of the Ireland team that won the 2015 Women's Six Nations Championship. Tyrrell is also an Ireland women's rugby sevens international. She has also played two other football codes at a senior level. As a women's association football player, Tyrrell played for St Catherine's in two FAI Women's Cup finals and played for Shamrock Rovers in the Women's National League. She also played senior Ladies' Gaelic football for in the Ladies' National Football League.
Tyrrell has spoken openly about her struggles with mental health issues and since 2015 has served as an ambassador for the Tackle Your Feelings campaign headed by the Irish Rugby Union Players Association.

Early years and education

Tyrrell was raised in Clondalkin and was educated at Coláiste Bríde. Between 2008 and 2010 she attended Trinity College, Dublin where she studied psychiatric nursing. However she did not complete her studies at Trinity as she struggled with an eating disorder and self-harm issues. Between 2012 and 2016 Tyrrell attended University College Dublin where she gained a BA in history and geography.

Gaelic football

Club level

Tyrrell playing as a forward, scored 1–3 and was named player of the match as she helped Round Towers win the 2011 Dublin Ladies Intermediate Championship, defeating Clontarf in the final by 2–8 to 1–9.

Inter-county

In 2006 Tyrrell was the goalkeeper of the team that won the All-Ireland Under-16 Ladies' Football Championship, defeating Cork by 5–16 to 1–10 in the final. Tyrrell was described as "truly outstanding" and was named player of the match after she saved two penalties in the final. In 2008 she was a member of the Dublin team that won the All-Ireland Under-18 Ladies' Football Championship, defeating Tyrone by 2–18 to 1–4 in the final. Tyrrell put in another player of the match performance as she helped Dublin win the 2010 All-Ireland Senior B Ladies' Football Championship, defeating Cork by 1–12 to 0–4 in the final. By early 2014 Tyrrell was playing for Dublin in the Ladies' National Football League. However she withdrew from the team mid-season when she was awarded a professional contract to play for the Ireland women's national rugby sevens team.

Association football

While attending Trinity College, Dublin, Tyrrell played both association football and futsal for Dublin University A.F.C.. She also played for Ireland Universities.
Tyrrell played for St Catherine's in two FAI Women's Cup finals. In 2009 she was in the team that lost 1–0 to St Francis.
In 2011 she finished on the winning side when St Catherine's
won 3–1 win against Wilton United. Other members of the St Catherine's team included Caroline Thorpe, Mary Waldron and Noelle Murray. Tyrrell also played for Shamrock Rovers during the inaugural 2011–12 Women's National League season.

Rugby union

Club and province

Before 2013 Tyrrell had never played women's rugby union. However she was encouraged to try out for Old Belvedere by former Ireland international Sharon Lynch. Tyrrell has also represented Leinster in the IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series, helping them win the 2016 title.

Ireland international

On 6 February 2015 Tyrrell made her debut for the Ireland women's national rugby union team in the 2015 Women's Six Nations Championship against Italy. In her debut season, Tyrrell helped Ireland win the championship. Tyrrell also represented Ireland at the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup.
Tyrrell has also played for the Ireland women's national rugby sevens team in the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series. In February 2017 Tyrrell, together with Alison Miller and Sene Naoupu, was controversially withdrawn from Ireland's 2017 Women's Six Nations Championship squad in order to represent the Ireland Sevens in the 2017 USA Women's Sevens. The reasoning behind this decision was that the Ireland Sevens were chasing a top eight finish in the 2016–17 World Rugby Women's Sevens Series in order to qualify for the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens.

Honours

Rugby union

;Ireland
;Leinster
;Round Towers
;St Catherine's