Aimee Clarke has had quite the impressive rise in rugby. The 23-year-old only played her rugby for the first time back in 2017, but since then, she has gone on to be capped for Ireland, Leinster and win an AIL double with Railway Union last year.
Clarke had originally been an underage star for Dublin in Gaelic Football, but after failing to make the cut at minor level, she channelled her energy and spare time into a different sport and has never looked back.
Speaking on FinalWhistle.ie’s The Rugby Show, Clarke spoke about how she was invited to Leinster underage trials after her very first club game back in 2017.
Clarke said:
“I started just as I turned 18, so five years ago. I fell into rugby, head first, not a clue what was going on.
“I got really really lucky. I got in just before the cut off for ages so after my first game, the opposition manager was like ‘where have you been?’ and I was like ‘Oh I’m only after starting’ and he said ‘there’s Leinster trials this Wednesday, I want you there’.
“I got really lucky, got selected by Leinster for the 7s, played three 7s tournaments with them, got even more lucky, I got selected by Ireland 7s at u18s.”
Clarke then became the first U18 to go straight up to the Leinster senior side in the same year and in her debut, she scored three tries against Ulster, finishing that season as the province’s top try scorer.
Last season, Railway Union won the AIL Cup and League and Aimee Clarke spoke of the emotions she went through while waiting for the final whistle during the league final against Blackrock College.
“It was just a relief to be honest with you. I remember sitting on the edge of the seat and your hearts going. You’re looking at the clock and you’re like will there be extra time. It was almost like a ping pong game.
You’re looking at the ref then the clock and then looking at the match, like it was unbelievable. But as soon as that whistle was blown, like we have to early morning gym sessions, three pitch sessions a week and it just felt like everything we did was just all worth it. That’s a credit to the club and the coaching staff and a credit to the girls as well, it just felt worth it.”
Railway Union have won their opening two games of the season so far and will be keen to retain their title once again. This weekend, they face Suttonians and will be confident of maintaining their 100% start to the campaign.
Check out this week’s episode of The Rugby Show below:
Luke Delaney
Luke is a final year Journalism student in DCU. He is a Sports Reporter for Wicklow People Sport and FinalWhistle.ie.