26 Jul Bronze for Allie Flynn at European Touch Rugby Championships in Vichy!
The global footprint of Navan RFC continues to expand in spectacular style! Everyone at Balreask Old is bursting with pride following the magnificent news that senior women’s star Allie Flynn and the Ireland Women’s Open Touch Rugby Team have captured a podium finish at the 2026 European Touch Rugby Championships in France.
Competing against the absolute elite of European touch rugby across five grueling days in Vichy, Allie and her Irish teammates delivered a series of world-class performances, ultimately securing the Bronze Medal with a commanding victory over Scotland in Saturday’s third-place playoff.
The 2026 Championships kicked off in unforgettable fashion on Tuesday, 21st July. A total of 78 teams representing 15 nations alongside representative European sides, 113 referees, coaches, and event volunteers, paraded through the streets from the iconic Vichy Opera down the promenade to the Darragon Stadium in Vichy Town.
Cheered on by enthusiastic local crowds, the opening night featured a historic, all-women’s spectacle. With a completely female officiating crew leading the way, host nation France took on Ireland in the featured opening match of the Women’s Open division. While the hosts claimed a hard-fought 9–5 victory under the lights, the high-tempo test set the stage for an extraordinary week of international competition.
From Wednesday, 22nd July through Saturday morning, the Women’s Open division saw intense round-robin action between England, France, Ireland, Scotland, and the European Women’s Open (EUWO) representative side.
Allie Flynn’s versatility, explosive acceleration, and sharp decision-making were on full display as Ireland navigated a challenging schedule:
Ireland bounced back from their opening-night loss to France by claiming a thrilling 9–6 win over Scotland in Round 2.
The Girls in Green showcased their attacking firepower in Round 5, storming to a decisive 15–4 victory over EUWO, despite tough encounters against eventual champions England.
Ireland maintained their composure during the final round of pool games, locking down a vital 12–1 victory against EUWO in Round 8 to solidify their standing in the playoff ranks.
With England defeating France 7–1 in Saturday’s Gold Medal decider to take the European title, Ireland turned their full attention to the Bronze Medal Match against Scotland on Saturday, 25th July.
In a high-stakes Celtic derby, Allie and the Irish squad saved their finest performance of the week for last. Combining relentless defensive pressure with clinical finishing in space, Ireland outclassed the Scots to seal a brilliant 11–6 victory and place their hands on European silverware!
Representing one’s country on the European stage is an extraordinary honor, but to return home with a European Championship medal is a monumental achievement. Allie Flynn’s success on the international stage is a testament to her athletic dedication, elite skill set, and the thriving high-performance culture cultivated within the women’s section at Navan RFC.
Your club, coaches, teammates, and the entire Navan community are immensely proud of you, Allie!
Allie in action during the week
Allie with her European Touch Rugby bronze medal