Your Scrumhalf Connection - Women's Rugby Blog

This came across the Oklahoma Rugby Alumni Listserv this morning. A newspaper in her hometown wrote this charming article. I know I have a pic of Jolene and I somewhere, if I find it I will put it up later. Enjoy!!

Rugby: Why our Jolene is set to star in Oklahoma..
Belfast Telegraph (Online newsletter from Jolene's hometown)

HAVING come up through mini rugby at Chambers Park, Portadown, Jolene Cloughley has now taken her skills and experience to the US where she is working as a Rugby Development Officer in Oklahoma.

Jolene, who is a third year student at the University of Ulster at Jordanstown, has been in the states since the summer after she applied to various rugby clubs offering to play for their teams and develop rugby at their youngest levels.

After seeing her impressive CV the University of Oklahoma contacted Jolene offering her to become a member of Oklahoma Rugby Inc by volunteering as a Development officer and coach for 12-18 year old girls in the town of Norman, Oklahoma.

She has also since being playing for the Oklahoma Roses Women's Squad as outside centre.

Jolene has an impressive rugby career having Captained Ulster U17 2000-2002, played for Ulster U19 in 2003 and played in the Ulster Senior Squad from 2004-2005.

Over the past few months Jolene has had a very busy schedule, travelling the States to tournaments in Texas, Arkansas and New Mexico State to name but a few, and her team has had great success.

When she is not travelling, her time is taken up with a tough gym regime, as well as coaching and training.

Jolene is thoroughly enjoying her time in the US and the challenge of playing rugby with a few variations: "The game of rugby in the US mirrors rugby in Northern Ireland except for a few things. I have only seen one team play by mauling! Our coach concentrates only on rucking."

She has also been working hard to recruit players for a new Oklahoma Girls Team in the town of Norman in Oklahoma. She has even been allocated her own bank account for the girl's team for which she is head coach. The New Year looks set to remain as busy as ever, as Jolene will be coaching rugby at Youth Camps for children from ages 5 to adolescents up to 18 years old.

Meanwhile, Ballyclare RFC Primary 6 mini-rugby side are really looking forward to this Saturday when they will run out at Ravenhill at half time during Ulster's Magners League clash at Ravenhill.

The Ballyclare mini rugby team will play Greystones from Co Wicklow.

Ballyclare has had close links with Greystones for the past 20 years and the two clubs usually play each other annually at the same level of senior rugby.

Greystones are bringing a 30-man squad this weekend and will stay at Dunadry. On Sunday they will provide three teams for a P6 tournament at Ballyclare's Cloughan Grounds against both Academy and the local club.

Kick-off is 10.30am.

The squad which will play at Ravenhill is: David Gilmour, James Reid, Richard Love, Johnny McAteer, Michael Stevenson, Andrew Rankin, Conor Cambridge, Matthew Robson, James Douglas and Andrew Blair.