Claire McLaughlin

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Claire Small (Née McLaughlin)
Birth nameClaire McLaughlin
Date of birth (1991-11-21) 21 November 1991 (age 29)
Place of birthBushmills, Northern Ireland
UniversityQueen's University Belfast
Occupation(s)Doctor
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre, Back Row
Current team Ulster, Ireland
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
.
Cooke
Queen's University
Old Belvedere R.F.C
 ()
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
. Ulster ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015–  Ireland

Claire Small (née McLaughlin) (born 21 November 1991) is a women's rugby union player from Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, and a qualified doctor. She plays for Ulster Rugby and the Ireland women's national rugby union team as a back row, having previously played in the centre.[1]

Early life and education[]

Small (née McLaughlin) was born on 21 November 1991[2] and is the daughter of John McLaughlin, a beef farmer, and his wife Pamela, a teacher. She has two brothers.[3] She grew up on a farm.[3] She was educated at Coleraine High School in Coleraine, County Londonderry.[3] After this she studied medicine at Queen's University, Belfast.[3]

Career[]

Following graduation, she spent her foundation year as a junior doctor at Mater Infirmorum Hospital, Belfast.[3] At the hospital, her colleagues gave her the nickname of "McSwaplin", since she often swapped shifts at the hospital to accommodate her rugby schedule.[4]. Claire has been at the forefront of the NHS battle against COVID19[5] working the Ulster Hospital A&E Department throughout the pandemic[6].

McLaughlin's introduction to rugby was through playing tag rugby at school, and she later joined . After moving to Belfast, McLaughlin started playing for Cooke WRFC before changing to Queen's University RFC.[7] She made her debut for Ulster aged 18 while still at university.[3] She made her debut for the Ireland women's national rugby union team in 2015.[3] She was selected for Ireland's 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup squad as one of only two Ulster players selected.[4] McLaughlin was named as a substitute for Ireland's opening match against the Australia women's national rugby union team at the UCD Bowl in Dublin, Republic of Ireland.[8]

Claire is currently recovering and rehabbing from a serious ankle injury[9].

Personal life[]

McLaughlin is a Christian.[10] While playing rugby, she wears wrist tape with "AO1" on it to give thanks to God for her career.[10] McLaughlin is also a trained pianist,[11] having played the keyboard and organ in church.[3] Mclaughlin married in the summer of 2021[12] to Jonny Small and goes by the name of Claire Small (née McLaughlin)

References[]

  1. ^ O'Reilly, Peter (29 January 2017). "Hard work pays off for McLaughlin". The Times. Retrieved 9 November 2017.(subscription required)
  2. ^ "Claire McLaughlin". Irish Rugby. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h "Meet Belfast doctor Claire McLaughlin lining out for Irish rugby". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "McLaughlin Has Remedy At The Ready For World Cup Fever y". IRFU. 1 August 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  5. ^ "'I could never have imagined being involved in something like this'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  6. ^ ""It maybe feels like we don't deserve all of this... It hasn't hit the surge yet" - Dr Claire McLaughlin". SportsJOE.ie. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Claire McLaughlin Q&A". Queen's University. 9 August 2017. Archived from the original on 10 November 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  8. ^ McKenna, Micheal (9 August 2017). "Ireland kick-off Women's Rugby World Cup in Dublin tonight". Armagh I. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  9. ^ "McLaughlin setting herself small goals". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b "Belfast doctor ready for Women's Rugby World Cup challenge". The Irish News. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  11. ^ Kiely, Ben (13 February 2017). "WATCH: Irish rugby star keeps airport goers entertained with one of her many talents". SportsJOE.ie. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  12. ^ "Login • Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
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