It’s giving absolute legend energy. Last Saturday, rugby players from across Northern Ireland gathered at the City of Derry to compete for the Rosie Stewart Memorial Bowl, an annual tradition that honors a true trailblazer of the sport.
Rosie Stewart, a Londonderry native, made history as a founding member of Ulster Women's Rugby and earned four caps for Ireland between 1999 and 2000. Sadly, she passed away in 2004 at just 33 after a breast cancer diagnosis. Her husband, Adrian, remembers her as “a girl like no other.”
More than a game
While the match between Cooke and Enniskillen was the main event, the real heart of the day was the focus on women’s health. Before kickoff, attendees participated in a health discussion hosted by fitness coach Claire O’Hagan and Jacinta McCool from the Western Trust.
O’Hagan broke down the science of female strength training and how the menstrual cycle impacts athletic performance. Meanwhile, McCool led a critical talk on breast and cervical cancer awareness. The goal is simple but highkey important: early detection leads to much better outcomes.
Why it matters
Kelly Gormley, a player for City of Derry, noted that the event feels incredibly personal for the community. “It’s at the forefront of our minds,” Gormley said, explaining that several squad members have been personally touched by cancer. By sharing this info, the ripple effect is real—if every girl at the event tells three or four friends, the message reaches a massive audience.
Stewart was "knocking down doors before people even knew about women's rugby," according to Gormley. By celebrating her life, these athletes are making sure the path she paved for women’s sports continues to grow, and that her legacy of health awareness stays front and center. Real talk, she's an icon.
