Catherine O'Donnell

Catherine O'Donnell (born 13 June 1996) is an English rugby union player. She represents England women's national rugby union team internationally and plays for Loughborough Lightning.[1]

Cath O’Donnell
Date of birth (1996-06-13) 13 June 1996
Place of birthCarlisle, Cumbria, England
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Weight95 kg (14 st 13 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
Loughborough Lightning - -
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017–present  England 19 (20)

International career

O’Donnell made her England debut against Canada in November 2017. In February 2018, she was brought on in the 2017 Women's Six Nations Championship as a replacement against Scotland and again versus Ireland. She scored her first international try in England’s 37-15 win over Ireland at Twickenham Stadium in 2018 as part of the 2018 Quilter Internationals.[2]

In 2019 she was awarded a full-time professional England contract.[1]

She started in four of England's five 2019 Women's Six Nations Championships games as the country won the grand slam. She went on to start all but one of England's Super Series fixtures in San Diego in 2019.[1]

After the 2019 season, O'Donnell discovered she had fractured her shins and was absent from international rugby until April 2021, when she returned for the 2021 Women's Six Nations Championship.[3] She was named in the England squad for the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup held in New Zealand in October and November 2022.[4]

Club career

O’Donnell played for Waterloo Ladies from 2014, and was recruited to the England U20s team while playing for the club.[5]

In 2017, she signed for Loughborough Lightning, where she continues to play.[6]

Early life and education

O'Donnell's first rugby experience was in rugby league, where she played for local club Maryport ARLFC near her hometown of Maryport and then Keswick, Vale of Lune.[5]

She played for the University of Liverpool as a student and she was named their athlete of the year for the 2015/16 season. O’Donnell then went to study for a Master's degree in Business Psychology at Loughborough University, graduating in 2019.[5][7]

References
  1. "RFU". www.englandrugby.com. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  2. "RFU". www.englandrugby.com.
  3. "O'Donnell returns to rugby after injury". Times and Star. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  4. "Rugby World Cup: Sadia Kabeya and Morwenna Talling in England squad". BBC Sport.
  5. "Catherine O'Donnell". www.ultimaterugby.com.
  6. "Seven Loughborough Lightning Rugby players named in England squad". Loughborough University. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  7. "'England jersey made all the hard work worth it,' says O'Donnell". Times Series.
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