FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS in Dungarvan, County Waterford, Niamh Briggs has developed into a star of global women’s rugby.
Following a superb try-scoring performance in Ireland’s World Cup opener against the US on Friday, the 29-year-old fullback kicked seven points and set up Alison Miller’s crucial try in yesterday’s historic 17-14 victory over New Zealand.
Not that Briggs’ and the Irish squad’s ambitions end with that success.
“For us, it’s only step two in the five-step process of the ultimate goal,” points out Briggs, who plays her club rugby for UL Bohemians in Limerick. Victory over Kazakhstan on Saturday will send Ireland into a first-ever World Cup semi-final.
Briggs began playing rugby with local club Dungarvan in 2007, having been brought up in a GAA family – older brother Shane is the current captain of Waterford’s footballers.
After swiftly adapting and excelling in rugby, Briggs made the move to Clonmel RFC a year later in order to play senior rugby. In 2010, the Garda was re-stationed to Limerick and opted to join a highly-professional set-up at UL Bohs.
I’ll never forget the very first session in Bohs, I turned up and there were 22 girls at training,” explains Briggs. “Ian Costello [now an assistant coach with Munster] pulled us in afterwards and said, ‘This is not good enough, everybody needs to be training.’
“That kind of attitude really helped me to understand what’s needed. You have the likes of Fiona Coghlan, Caroline Mahon, Jeannette Feighery - all these girls who were seasoned internationals.
“You could go in and hit a bag in training and they’d rile you out of it in front of everyone because you didn’t hit it hard enough. They had a mantra there that you should train the way you play.”
The standards in Annacotty proved a “wake-up call” for Briggs, who had only just returned from playing for Ireland at the 2010 World Cup in England. The sight of Coghlan “absolutely pummelling” into contact sessions on the wettest, coldest nights inspired the same “attitude and enthusiasm for the game” in Briggs.
One of the areas the Waterford native looked to address in her training approach was place-kicking, which has proved so important for Ireland in the current World Cup.
Briggs stands at an 80% success rate after two games, slotting eight of her 10 efforts at goal. Having taken to place-kicking when she moved to Clonmel in ’08, the evolution has been fascinating.
It was a natural progression. It was one of the easiest parts of the game, coming from a GAA background, to be able to kick. In the women’s game, kicking isn’t very big, so it’s hard to get coaching in it.
“But after the 2010 World Cup, I really felt like I let myself down in that aspect of the game. I spoke to Ian Costello, and he’s done a lot of work with me. I was always pressing myself via YouTube videos of Jonny Wilkinson, ROG, Jonny Sexton, these guys, trying to emulate them.
“I kind of had a natural instinct for it, but sometimes couldn’t get the consistency. That’s where Cossie and Greg McWilliams [Ireland's attack, backs and skills guru] have really helped me in the last few years, that consistency in return rates. I’m delighted it seems to be going well for me at the moment.”
That said, the perfectionist in Briggs is not content.
I missed one in the US game, I missed one yesterday, both very kickable. I’m not there just yet, but I’m striving for it.”
Wilkinson’s kicking routine involved envisioning a can of beer in a fan’s hand behind the posts, and then attempting to hit the vessel with his kick. Leigh Halfpenny closes his eyes and transports himself back to home village Gorseinon before each attempt at goal.
Does Briggs share repeated habits such as those? She has read Wilkinson’s book, studying the craft and its component parts, as well as speaking to other place-kickers.
“I’ve often had chats with Ian Keatley [Munster's out-half] about it,” answers Briggs, there are loads of different things. You pick a target usually and, for me, it’s very much a mental thing then, because I feel if I can get my mental side right, more often than not the kick will go over the bar.
“You do pick a target. I’m definitely not at the standard of Jonny Wilkinson where I can pick a beer can. It’s usually something behind the goal, a billboard or a tree, or something like that. I focus on that and go through my set routine.”
“I usually just try to talk myself into a calm demeanour and then you have key points that you keep reiterating to yourself. They’re the ones I say before every kick and that’s usually in my head.”
The 70th-minute penalty against New Zealand yesterday with the game tied at 14-14 [video above], received an enforced version of Briggs’ key points. The result was a game-winning three points for Ireland.
Before the last kick yesterday, I actually said them out loud to really focus in on it.”
Briggs credits McWilliams with a steadying influence over her place-kicking, pointing out that both she and Ireland’s coaching staff view place-kicks as often being “the winning or losing of the game.”
“Greg is all about getting the best out of players,” says Briggs. “You can see that from the way we attack. He comes on the pitch and he’s calm and cool. Before that last kick yesterday, he was almost having the chats with me, to try and calm me down.”
Away from the tee, Briggs has been inspirational for Ireland too. Her kicking from hand has been especially important, gaining Ireland vital territory and frustrating the US and Kiwis as the ball flew beyond their covering defenders.
In a game where the end-over-end punt has become the norm, Briggs’ classical spiralling style of kicking is a breath of fresh air.
Her intelligent counter-attack and accurate pass sent Miller clear to score in the left-hand corner against the Black Ferns, while Briggs’ cover tackling has been as reliable as ever in covering any busts of Ireland’s formidable front-up defence.
Putting it all together, Briggs is contributing in a major way to Irish women’s rugby, which has been consistently improving and impressing in recent years. This group can inspire a new generation of female rugby players, something Briggs would love to see.
It’s great to see that the game is evolving all the time and that’s what we want – more girls playing rugby.
“We want more girls to be out playing and enjoying it. I’m not sure about inspiration and role models, but in terms of trying to get people playing, it’s brilliant if we can do that.”
Briggs is a serious player was unstoppable yesterday
Well done to the Irish Girls, doing the country proud.
I just love all this, more power (and coverage) of womens’ sport.
And hopefully in years to come future place kickers will take inspiration from her
Congratulations Niamh and the team. We in the Deise are very proud of you.
Best wishes for the remaining competition. Without any doubt you can do it.
Irish women are full of surprise…..congratulations!
Watched the second half of the game yesterday and was so impressed by the Irish performance, their defence, teamwork and intelligent play under pressure was as good as any Irish provincial or National performance in the last year.
Niamh scored a cracking conversion from the sideline and the voice of Bill McLaren was echoing in my head as she “gave it some thump… right over the bar”
Congrats to the team and hoping they continue to greater success
This competition has being going since 1991, and Ireland have just become only the 2nd team ever to beat world champions New Zealand in this competition. Ireland are the Grand Slam Champions and the first Irish Rugby Team to beat any New Zealand Rugby team at test level. Why should they not be lauded maybe this particular monkey is finally off our backs.
ffs…this is getting ridiculous
Hands up who didn’t even know the women’s wc was even on..be honest
Like a lot of rugby fans they’ll claim to have been following it for years
COYGIG
Getting sick of this already. Like someone else already said how many people even know there was a women’s world cup before yesterday? Yet another rugby bandwagon for people to jump on!
Most people who follow rugby knew it was on. Why so irritated over a popular sport?
Ya I’m sure they did. The same way they were all fans pre 2000….
Do they have to be pre 2000 fans? Is there a set date you must of had an interest from? What’s wrong with people ‘jumping on the bandwagon’? When a country does well in something of course it’s people take an interest and support them. This is only natural and is the same with any sport.
But why does it bother you so much?
The last question is really the only one if like you to answer. For your own asks more than anything.
Nicholas, don’t bother replying to these clowns, they are obviously trolling, which of course is the saddest pastime of all.
Bla bla bla topical rugby fan response. Most rugby “fans” only started to follow it since the early 2000s yet try to claim they’ve always followed it. Those same “fans” where no where to be seen after the 07 world cup, when Ireland once again bottled it, yet two years later they win the six nations and surprise surprise they’re back supporting them again. Success dried up for a bit and again they disappointed and back they came again this year. That’s what’s wrong and it happens in rugby more than any other sport, as much as its PR machine will try to say otherwise
People can do whatever the hell they like! If they want to spend their hard earned cash one year to watch a sport and not the the next that’s their choice.
Why does it bother you so much???
6 nations games are sold out every year during good times and bad times.
Who are ‘they’! Who are these ‘fans’ you talk of?
Ya sure they were. Typical again for the rugby PR machine trying to cover up anything that puts it in a bad light. Much like it’s bad mouthing of other sports, you going to deny that as well? Or the fact the likes of munster can’t sell tickets for games anymore? That of course has nothing to do with the fact they’re winning nothing…. In fact this game yesterday is a rugby “fans” wet dream, what excuse will you and the rest have when they bottle like the men? Because we all know when an irish rugby team lose its someone else’s fault
You should know seeing as you’re one of them
Yeah they are always sold out. So yep, I’ll deny it.
Why would I need to make an excuse if the Irish women’s team don’t go all the way?? Why?
I’m don’t think I’m seeing your overall point, but I see your anger. Something’s eating away at you. You’re really taking this one to heart.
Despite the fact that they’re not sold out. Because that’s what you rugby folk do better than anyone. Then again if they only lose by a few points that’ll do you and no doubt you’ll celebrate like they actually won…..
To be honest Steven I can’t even work out whether you follow/enjoy the game or not or if you’re a fan of another sport and have an issue with rugby.
Why would I celebrate a defeat? I just can’t grasp what you are saying.
What makes you put me in the category of one of these ‘fans’ , very presumptuous ??
Again, why does it bother you so much?
Are you trying to deny rugby fans celebrating almost winning games? All I’m saying I won’t be overly worried when rugby goes back into obscurity where it belongs
I don’t know why anyone would celebrate a defeat and I don’t know any sport that would! So yep, I’m denying it (your a gas character for asking people to deny things).
Cool, I was confused as to why you were on a rugby story !?!? Just thought you’d have a sneeky look eh? See what it’s all about? Jump on the bandwagon??
I wouldn’t knock you for it pal, each to their own ;)
To give you some credit, yes rugby only really started to capture the imagination of the wider sporting community around 2000. But Steven, that was 14 long years ago and, you know, it has flourished and grown exponentially in this time. You could almost say that it’s here to stay! It’s like saying the Irish soccer team have only bandwagon supporters because it only got going in 1988. You’ve a massive problem with this ‘bandwagon’ thing in your head. Is it just with rugby or is it sport in general? Are you as excitable when fans of other countries celebrate their sporting successes? And anyone with even a passing interest in rugby knew the women were playing in the World Cup this week. Don’t let it worry you anyway.
Plenty of people did. Why, because the success of the womens team is not new. They won a Grandslam in ’13. Their 6 Nations games are being televised from Ashbourne the last couple of years.
It’s ridiculous. A few extra articles about an Irish team doing well draws moans and complaints yet soon we will have around the clock non stop English Soccer talk, press coverage etc etc and folks will be glued to it.
Pathetic.
There’s something very special about the Irish woman’s rugby team and the coach and captain deserve serious credit. They maximise their potential. Lessons to be learned all round.
At least Briggs does not choke when there is a kick to be had, to beat the blacks, like…
she’s scary
Did she ever do Ballet?
Well if two tries were scored by Ireland in a 17- 14 win, I don’t see how it is possible for her to have kicked 12 of her teams points. Or do they have a different scoring scheme in this ridiculous spectacle??? She kicked a conversion and a penalty. Whoop dee feckin doo! Hardly in the ROG/Wilkinson league. Stupid sport for rugger groupies. Stick to the knitting needles girls! :-)
If you watched the game you might have appreciated the quality of her conversion – she was very involved in the preceding try and then nailed the conversion from just in from touch: very classy
Not Wilko/ROG but very very good
The PR machine is out in force this evening
Fabulous conversion. Wilko, ROG, Johnny Sexbomb, Madser, Ollie Campbell … they’d all be proud of it
Murray did you know, one thing Niamh always fails to mention. She played her rugby in Waterford IT also alongside Alison Millar in 2006/07 season narrowly missing out on All-Ireland glory two seasons in a row. Even back then both were destined for a performance like the NZ game.