Railway Union continue to be at the forefront of driving women’s rugby as they look to win back AIL title

Having previously coached in Malahide, as well as in the women’s Energia All-Ireland League (AIL) with St Mary’s and more recently Suttonians, Costelloe was well-versed on the challenges that lay ahead when he took on the role as Railway Union head coach at the start of the season.

Costelloe’s appointment coincided with a changing of the guard at Railway, with some of their more experienced players such as former Ireland second-row Aoife McDermott calling it a day, while John Cronin left his role.

Despite the changes, Railway continued to be at the forefront of driving women’s rugby. For Costelloe, that meant ensuring the Sandymount-based club made it back to their fourth consecutive AIL final, with Sunday’s meeting against UL Bohs set to bring about a little more pressure in that it will be held at the Aviva Stadium for the first time.

“We spoke about it when I came in and said that (winning the AIL) has to be the target for a club like Railway,” Costelloe tells the Irish Independent.

​“That’s something that will always be instilled. We always want to be sitting at that top table. With a new system, new people, new ideas, there may have been a piece to say, ‘Let’s see how it goes.’ But everyone rowed in and said, ‘Let’s keep our focus on where we want to go and what we have to do to get there.’

“It’s been about trying to embed a slightly different ethos on how we want to play. It’s been challenging, trying to change mindsets. John Cronin did a phenomenal job before me and he obviously had everybody in sync in terms of playing in a certain way. I was conscious that I didn’t want to come in and change a huge amount, but I wanted to give them a bit more of a licence to play.

“We all train together, the ethos is to bring the J1s and firsts together as one team, so that everybody is working and learning from each other as much as anything. We have a very young squad. It’s about bringing the team together as much as we possibly can. We have used 43 out of our 46 players.”

Amidst the obvious excitement at the women’s AIL final getting top billing at the home of Irish rugby, there is also a sense of frustration that it was scheduled a day after Ireland’s final Six Nations game against Scotland in Belfast.

“Look, we kind of had a sense early on that the final was going to be when it is,” Costelloe maintains.

“You always have that fear as a coach with the calibre of player that we have, that we would have players in that Six Nations squad and how that would inevitably affect things across the board.

“At the start, you did worry about the knock-on effect, but there has been a fair enough transition on that front.

“We’ve had to deal with different things throughout the season with the Celtic Challenge, the WXV, they’ve come with bigger pieces, but they have led to opportunities for other players, and some of them have grasped them massively.

“So, look, where there is adversity, we have created opportunities and managed to build on that, which has been great.”

Whatever frustrations that may exist have been tempered by the opportunity for Railway and Bohs to get a chance to play at the Aviva for the first time.

“Ah, it’s massive,” Costelloe insists.

“What it represents is phenomenal. The senior players spoke about watching the men getting to represent (at the Aviva) over the last few years. They have played at Donnybrook but a lot of players look at that and say, ‘The Aviva is the pinnacle,’ and it’s where they want to be.

“I think there was only one women’s game held there prior to this, an Ireland game back in 2014. It came up in conversation with a couple of players.

“There is a lot of excitement. A lot of people were quite emotional around the announcement and the magnitude of it. There is a massive buzz. You can even see since the intensity levels took another rise because it was that inspiration piece, as I’m sure it was for every club.

“It provides that opportunity to showcase how good the women’s AIL is, how good the players are, and hopefully it will give it even more exposure going forward.”

Costelloe’s hope, which is shared by many people across the league, is that a more aligned calendar can be found in the coming years, as Irish women’s rugby continues to play catch-up.

For now, though, it’s all about Sunday’s final, as Railway attempt to win back the title that they relinquished last season, with Costelloe full of praise for how the club has come together as one.

“Look, there is a phenomenal backroom set-up in the club. We are all in unison,” he adds.

“Even leading up to the final, it’s been all about what’s needed, what certain people would take care of, so we could focus on the work on the pitch and not be distracted by anything on the outside. That was all taken care of. It’s a brilliant environment to be involved in.

“What can be showcased and what can be delivered in the women’s AIL is fantastic.”