Nora Stapleton

Nora Stapleton is a former Ireland women's rugby union international. Stapleton represented Ireland at the 2010, 2014 and 2017 Women's Rugby World Cups. She was also a member of the Ireland teams that won the 2013 and 2015 Women's Six Nations Championships. Stapleton was a member of the first Ireland teams to defeat both and . Stapleton has also played two other football codes at a senior level. As a women's association football player, she played for UCD in FAI Women's Cup finals and UEFA Women's Cup campaigns. She has also played senior ladies' Gaelic football for .

Early years and education Stapleton grew up in Fahan, near Buncrana, in Inishowen, County Donegal. She was educated at St Mura's NS in Tooban and Crana College in Buncrana. Between 2001 and 2004 Stapleton attended University College Dublin where she gained a BSc. She studied sports management, financial management, leisure management, theory of coaching, physiology and organisational management.

Association football Stapleton attended UCD on a soccer scholarship and played as a defender for the women's football team. Together with Sylvia Gee, Mary Waldron and Caroline Thorpe, she was a prominent member of the UCD team that won three successive FAI Women's Cup finals between 2002 and 2004. After winning the FAI Women's Cup, UCD qualified for the UEFA Women's Cup and Stapleton subsequently played in their 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005–06 campaigns. She also helped UCD complete a four-in-a-row of Dublin Women's Soccer League titles between 2003 and 2006.

Ladies' Gaelic football

Clubs Stapleton played ladies' Gaelic football at club level for Naomh Padraig,

Inter-County Stapleton played for at senior inter-county level. In June 2008 she was named Player of the Month after helping Donegal defeat , the reigning champions, in the first round of the Ulster Senior Ladies' Football Championship. On 26 September 2010, Stapleton helped Donegal win the 2010 All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies' Football Championship. In the final Donegal played a team that included Stapleton's Ireland women's rugby union international teammate, Niamh Briggs. Between 2007 and 2013 Stapleton also worked for Ballinteer St John's GAA/Dublin GAA as a Gaelic games promotional officer.

Leinster Stapleton has played for Leinster in the IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series. She was first called up to the Leinster squad in 2009.

Barbarians On 10 November 2017 Stapleton came on as a replacement for the Barbarians against Munster in the invitational team's first women's match. Stapleton provided the assist for Georgina Roberts to score the crucial third try as the Barbarians won 19–0. In March 2018 Stapleton also played for the Barbarians against a British Army XV.

Ireland international Between 2010 and 2017 Stapleton made 50 appearances for Ireland. She made her debut for Ireland against Italy on 5 February 2010. Since 2013 Stapleton has also worked for the IRFU as a women and girls development manager.

Honours Rugby union Ireland Women's Six Nations Championship Winners: 2013, 2015: 2 Grand Slam Winners: 2013 Triple Crown Winners: 2013, 2015 Leinster IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series Winners: 2013, 2016: 2 Old Belvedere All Ireland Division One Winners: 2013, 2014, 2015 : 3 Individual Women's All Ireland Player’s Player of the Year Award 2018

Association football UCD FAI Women's Cup Winners: 2002, 2003, 2004 : 3 Dublin Women's Soccer League Winners: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006: 4 DWSL Premier Cup Winners: 2004, 2005, 2007: 3

Gaelic football

All-Ireland Intermediate Ladies' Football Championship Winner: 2010 Individual Ladies Player of the Month Award June 2008