When Claire Boles stepped onto the rugby pitch at the 2024 Paris Olympics representing Ireland, she carried with her the dreams of every young girl who has ever picked up a rugby ball in County Fermanagh.
Her journey began at Enniskillen RFC – a club that has become synonymous with developing world-class female rugby talent through three decades of National Lottery support transforming grassroots sport across the UK.
Multiple players – including Sophie Barrett, Claire Boles, and India Daley – all originally from Enniskillen and developed through the club’s system, now have realistic prospects for Rugby World Cup selection or are already representing Ireland at the highest level. This success demonstrates how over the last 30 years, by investing over £6 billion into more than 90,000 grassroots clubs and organisations, The National Lottery has been game-changing for women and girls’ sport.
The club’s international pathway continues to flourish, with six ladies currently in the Ulster Squad – a remarkable representation for a single club. Leading this contingent is India Daley, who serves as Ulster Captain. Daley’s journey to the top has been remarkable: she secured an Ireland contract and was involved with the 2023/24 Ireland Six Nations squad before suffering a serious knee injury that kept her out of rugby for an entire year. Her recent return to playing represents not just personal triumph but also the resilience and determination that characterises players developed at Enniskillen RFC.
Sophie Barrett’s journey epitomises the club’s pathway to success. The prop progressed from winning the Danske Bank Girls Schools Cup with Erne Integrated College through Ulster’s Pathway Programme from U18 level to the Senior Women’s team. Her development culminated in being named one of the Most Valuable Players of the U20 Six Nations Summer Series and earning a place on the “Team of the Series.”
Claire Boles, who competed for Ireland at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and was selected for Ireland’s 2025 Six Nations Championship, reflects: “My rugby journey started when I was 14 at Enniskillen rugby club. I always play rugby for my family – they’re definitely my why.”
Her advice to young players is characteristically down-to-earth: “Probably enjoy yourself, work hard, but just do what you love, and there’ll be no bother to you.”
Perhaps most impressive is the speed of development the club enables. Ciara O’Donnell started playing for school in September 2024, joined both the club and Ulster pathway, and by April 2025 had been selected to represent Ireland at the U18 Women’s Six Nations. This eight-month progression from beginner to international selection demonstrates the quality of coaching and pathway development at Enniskillen RFC.
The club demonstrates a complete pathway from minis to adult level, with strong school and club links creating clear development routes. Under the guidance of Senior Ladies Convenor James Moore and coaches including Head Coach Rodney Balfour and Assistant Coaches Sam Balfour and James Moore, the women’s programme has become a model for developing international-standard players, creating pathways that connect community clubs to international success.