How to pick the right Kids Rugby Boots

Posted on July 13, 2022 at 1:01 pm.

Are you looking to find the right pair of kids rugby boots for your child or children?

The new season is just upon us so knowing what to buy is important.

As Official Sports Retailer of the IRFU, we love our rugby, so that’s why we’ve created this guide to picking the right kids rugby boots for you.

We’ll discuss what features to look out for, sizing, some of the brands, tips on measuring feet and also answer ‘can kids wear soccer boots for rugby?’.

Kids Rugby Boots: Features

Making sure your kids rugby boots have some important features can really help your child, as well as saving you money.

Things to look out for:

Studs

Because of a lot of amateur rugby is played during the Autumn/Winter, the ground tends to be mucky and slippy.

So making sure your child has good traction is essential.

For soft ground, your child will need at least six metal studs, which help in transitions, scrums, breakdowns and more.

Rugby boots have a longer stud than soccer or football boots too, which is what sets them apart.

Mesh Lining

A mesh lining makes sure your little one’s feet can breathe while a one piece high scuff resistant PU upper provides essential durability and abrasion resistance to last then through a long rugby season.

Shock attenuating properties help to reduce strain to their lower limbs so they can always play at maximum power with less risk of injury.

Cushioning

There is a lot of potential for strain to ankles in rugby, so plenty of cushioning will provide ample protection.

It will also ensure maximum comfort for your child.

Style

There’s quite the different in requirements for backs and forwards in rugby, so their boots vary too.

For example, backs will prefer a lighter, more nimble boot to focus on speed and footwork.

Forwards will need a tougher, more secure boot with protection and grip in abundance.

Kids Rugby Boots: Sizing

Rugby boots should be as snug without contacting the toes as possible at the foot’s end.

Women’s sizing, on the other hand, differs from conventional shoe sizing and is roughly one and a half sizes smaller. For instance, a woman wearing a size 9 regular shoe should wear a size 7.5 rugby boot.

The size of the person’s feet will determine the boot size that is selected. But when purchasing rugby boots, a 1-inch space between the foot and the boot is excellent.

Rugby boots come in a variety of sizes, from junior to adult. Please compare the size charts provided with the specific items.

The same applies to kids.

Can kids wear football boots in rugby?

In a nutshell: yes.

Football boots are constructed with speed and agility in mind, whereas rugby boots are made with the need for power and stability in mind.

As a result, rugby boots are frequently bigger, have elevated heels, have more and larger studs, and have an ankle cut that is higher.

However, there are also a few more complex points to consider. Football boots are frequently worn by rugby backs players because their positions call for a lot of agility and kicking.

This explains why some rugby players favour football boots.

For rugby forwards, whose needs are extremely different, this is less true.

Consider the force and weight that a front row forward experiences when in a scrum.

It is crucial that they have a solid foundation from which to push, which is why they need bigger boots with more and larger studs than soccer boots.

How to measure kids feet?

If you’re not sure how to measure your kids’ feet at home, we can help.

Check out this blog on how to do it.

Or call in-store where our Sports Advisors will only be delighted to help.

Conclusion

We hope this guide helped your journey in finding the right kids rugby boots.

We’ve got some amazing offers from all the top brands on our site.

Check them out below.

The Ultimate Rugby Recovery Session

Posted on February 15, 2022 at 4:52 pm.

Written by Ger Flanagan

80 minutes of rugby at any level is severe on the body, so getting that all-important rugby recovery session in the following day is crucial for performance.

Rugby players are encouraged to perform a rugby recovery session the day after a game to help recovery, which will aid soreness, tightness and mobility issues.

The sessions will only take 20 minutes and are designed to be light, mostly non-strenuous work. We’ve got a great line of recovery equipment right HERE.

Check out a video snippet of the session below.

Intersport Elverys takes recovery serious, that’s why we’ve got Connacht Rugby’s Head of Athletic Performance, David Howarth, to take us through a typical recovery rugby session.

Or as Howarth puts it, in his Aussie accent: ‘a regen session’.

Howarth brings a wealth of experience to his role, having previously worked with Oklahoma City Thunder NBA as their strength and conditioning coach.

So you’re in safe hands.

Before you start, why not check out our Top Tips from the Connacht Rugby Team.

Types of Rugby Recovery Session

“There’s three different levels of regeneration or recovery that we would suggest for the Connacht Rugby guys to do after big sessions, or between sessions, so that they can get ready to perform again.

“Essentially you can do active regeneration, passive regeneration or some sort of mental regeneration.

“Active regeneration or recovery might be down in the ocean getting in cold water, or a sauna of some other exposure to heat, or maybe it might just be getting a longer sleep.

“A mental regeneration could be reading, talking with friends or working through some plans or something like that. While active regen’ or recovery is where we actually take action to try and change tissue quality, or the way we feel and move.

“So below is a quick example of some active regen’ we suggest for the guys to do on their down days.”

Dos and Don’ts for a Rugby Recovery Session

“Before any rugby recovery session starts, there’s a number of dos and don’ts you should follow.

“One thing we want to prioritise going into any of these sessions is making sure we get enough sleep and we’ve eaten the right foods. This can be like putting lipstick on a monkey if you don’t do these two things.

“First, make sure you get a really good night’s sleep and get good food into you going into that day off. Once you’re on it, make sure you’re taking your time going through the recovery session and don’t rush it.

“But equally don’t turn it into a full workout because that is coming the day after for you.

“Check out our three-part easy-to-do active recovery session below.”

Active Rugby Recovery Session To Try

Rugby Recovery Session Part 1: Trigger Therapy

“To do this, you are going to need a roller and a trigger ball, even a massage gun will help.

“Start by lying down on your roller, hugging yourself around your chest, looking for elbow on elbow, and working on your lower back, rolling between your hips and about the middle of the thoracic spine.

“Keep it nice and smooth, nice and slow, and keep that chin tucked up.

“Then you’re going to find a nice tight spot, drop your hips down to the ground and gradually lift those elbows back towards your head, working in and out of it. What you’re trying to do is pin down the tissue that is really tight.

“This is really good for loosing out the shoulders and you can work your way through the various tight spots you might have.

“From there you can move on to the front of the thigh. Roll over and drop your quads onto the roller, go one or two legs, whatever you feel comfortable doing.

“And we’re working the same theories here of rolling through the tissue, finding any bad spots and when you do, pin the knot.

“This can be really beneficial when you don’t have access to massage therapy.

“We want you to continue working through the legs, like the outside of the thigh – the IT Band – and then the calves. This is not particularly pleasant, nor do you want it to be, so it should feel a six or seven out of ten in terms of pain.

“The results should be pleasant but the actual doing of it is quite unpleasant.”

Rugby Recovery Session Phase 2: Basic Stretching

“The second phase of this is just basic stretching.

“One we like to do is the pigeon push up. Start in a push up position, pull your knee up to your chest and point your foot out the side. From there you just want to drop your chest over the top of your knee. Don’t overdo this either.

“We’re lengthening out that muscle towards the back around the glutes and up toward the hip, a part of the body that gets tied up in rugby players due to change of direction and getting blasted off the ball.

“It’s pretty hard to hold yourself in this if you’ve not got a good range of motion and the ability to hold here ends up in a little bit of a performance advantage.”

“Another stretch we like is a lying leg twist. The lads will lie on their back, roll their leg over and try and keep their shoulders on the ground. If you’re struggling with that, just lean over on your side, life your hand high up in the air and twist that back as far as you can.

“Stay nice and relaxed while holding these positions and stay in them for one to two minutes.”

Rugby Recover Session Phase 3: Movement Fly

“The next phase is a bit more challenging and about cleaning up the movement, making sure that hips and shoulders and backs are working together and able to transition between key positions.

“We’ll ask the guys to stand on their feet, starting nice and low, pushing up overhead and reaching away to open up them shoulders, challenging that balance. Sinking down to a forward fold to loosen out the hamstrings before walking your hands forward to a push up position.

“You can work by pushing back in a dogs pose or push through to a Hindu pose. From here step forward with one leg, pushing into the ground with one arm and the opposite points towards the sky and opens up. Repeat on the other side.
“For a bit of a challenge to the core, bring the hands back into what we call a bear crawl position and move to an ex-switch, which brings up one foot and the opposite hand to the shoulder. Stay low and balanced before rolling back into a squat and standing up.”

Conclusion

As Official Sports Retail Partner of Connacht Rugby, we’re delighted to have David’s expertise on show. Full video below.

We’ve got other recovery based content too, like this Yoga Poses for GAA Players and Footballers.

Why not shop our Rugby Range Right HERE or our Recovery Range below.

Famous Irish Rugby Players: Top 6

Posted on February 10, 2022 at 3:51 pm.

Written by Ger Flanagan

Throughout our history, there has been some very famous Irish rugby players.

Irish rugby has long punched well above its weight in terms of the talent it has produced and now we’re taken on the difficult task of picking our most famous and best players.

If you’re new to rugby, our Ultimate Guide to Rugby Positions Blog might help.

As Official Retail Sports Partners of the IRFU, we know it’s not going to be a easy and we’d also like to apologise to anyone we’ve left out or who you think should be included.

It’s a game of opinions after all!

So here we go, and in no particular order.

Famous Irish Rugby Players: 1

Brian O’Driscoll (1999-2014)

Position: Centre

Caps: 141 (Ireland 131 and British and Irish Lions 8)

Tries: 47 (Ireland 46 and British and Irish Lions 1)

We’re starting off with the easiest inclusion in our list.

Dricco’ is widely regarded as the best rugby player Ireland has ever produced and some will also argue as the greatest to play the sport.

The centre was a prolific try-scorer with a record of 46 for Ireland, while he also boasts the record appearances of 133 Tests, 83 as captain.

The Leinster club man had pace, strength, leadership, agility, leadership and flair – the complete player who somehow, was never awarded the World Player of the Year despite 3 nominations.

O’Driscoll also boasted eight Lions Test caps, 4 Triple Crowns, 2 Six Nations, one Grand Slam, 3 European Cups and is still the all-time Six Nations try scorer.

Famous Irish Rugby Players: 2

Paul O’Connell (2002-2015)

Position: Second Row

Caps: 115 (Ireland 108 and British and Irish Lions 7)

Tries: 8 (all with Ireland)

A fans favourite and the leader of the pack through an illustrious career.

The second row was a colossus, revered across the world for his leadership, heart and talent.

The Munster man finished with 108 Ireland caps, hampered somewhat by injuries. He also lined out for the Lions on three tours, captaining the in 2009.

Post Brian O’Driscoll, O’Connell captained Ireland 28 times, leading his country to the 2014 and 2015 Six Nations. In total, he finished with 3 Six Nations, one Grand Slam, 4 Triple Crowns and 2 European Cups.

Famous Irish Rugby Players: 3

Keith Wood (1994-2003)

Position: Hooker

Caps: 63 (Ireland 58 and British and Irish Lions 5)

Tries: 15

A forward by name, but Keith Wood was totally and utterly unique in what he could do.

World Rugby Player of the Year in 2001, the Munster man was highly mobile and possessed pace, agility, a kicking game, excellent hands along with a insatiable desire for work.

Playing 58 times for Ireland, 36 as captain, Wood represented the British and Irish Lions on the 1997 and 2001 tours and helped Munster reach their first ever European Cup Final in 2000.

Hampered by injuries, he held the record for test tries by a hooker (15) until very recently.

Famous Irish Rugby Players: 4

Willie John McBride (1962-1975)

Position: Lock

Caps: 80 (Ireland 63 and British and Irish Lions 17

Tries: 2

In terms of a British and Irish Lions tour legend, Willie John McBride is undisputed in the record books.

Picking up 63 caps for Ireland and captaining them to the 1974 Five Nations, McBride helped the Lions to their only tour victory over New Zealand in 1971. In 1974, he captained the Lions on what is considered their most successful tour ever in South Africa, where they won 21 matches on the bounce and were dubbed the ‘Invincibles’.

They were amongst five of his tours with the Lions!

He registered 11 caps as Ireland captain and had famous wins over South Africa and Australia in their own backyard.

Famous Irish Rugby Players: 5

Ronan O’Gara (2000-2013)

Position: Fly-half
Tests: 128

Points: 1083

O’Gara is second only to O’Driscoll as the most-capped Ireland player in history with an incredible 128 caps and an even more incredible 1083 points scored.

The fly-half was one of the most consistent and professional kickers in the world game and a central figure for Ireland and Munster for over ten years.

O’Gara toured with the Lions in 2001, 2005 and 2009, but perhaps his most famous day out was winning the winning drop goal in Cardiff to help seal Ireland’s first Grand Slam in 61 years.

If you’re interested in kicking, we’ve a fantastic How-To Blog & Video featuring Connacht and Ireland’s Jack Carty HERE.

Famous Irish Rugby Players: 6

Johnny Sexton (2009-Present)

Position: Fly-half

Caps: Over 100 and counting

Points: Over 900

The evergreen Sexton is the only player in this list still plying his trade and no list of great players could be completed without him.

The once understudy to O’Gara, since Sexton broke onto the since in the late noughties he hasn’t looked back. In 2010 he surpassed O’Gara in the starting team and developed into a ferocious leader.

One of the world’s best over the past decade, Sexton was awarded the World Rugby Player of the Year in 2018 after being instrumental in helping Ireland reach number one in the world and be named World Rugby Team of the Year.

Conclusion: Honourable Mentions

We couldn’t finish this list without mentioning a number of players who could easily have been picked.

We’re talking the legendary Jackie Kyle (1946-1958), Rory Best (2005-2019), Mike Gibson (1964-1979) and Ciaran Fitzgerald (1979-1986).

We can’t wait to hear your suggestions either, so let us know.

Intersport Elverys is proud to be Official Retail Partners with the IRFU and also Connacht Rugby.

Training Advice from some Top Irish Female Athletes

Posted on January 25, 2022 at 1:39 pm.

Written by Ger Flanagan

There are some seriously talented Irish Female Athletes across the many sporting codes in this country right now.

We’re lucky to have some of these top Irish female athletes collaborating with us at Intersport Elverys.

From football, GAA, running, sprinting, rugby and boxing, we’ve been working closely with some of the leading Irish Female Athletes through their careers and we’ve managed to get some insight into their thinking, with them providing some brilliant advice on training, motivation, tips on reaching your goals and more.

Irish International Sprinter/Hurdler Sarah Quinn, Irish Rugby 7s/Xvs Stacey Flood, Republic of Ireland’s Rianna Jarrett, Team Ireland boxer Gráinne Walsh, international runner Grace Lynch and Cavan LGFA/Collingwood AFLW star Aishling Sheridan answer our quickfire questions.

Check them out below.

Or you can also watch them over on YouTube, right HERE:

International Sprinter/Hurdler: Sarah Quinn (Mayo)

Advice for everyday Athletes: “To start off with a focus that you know you will be able to stick to and build your daily routine around. Don’t start off with ten things at once, because the likelihood is you won’t be able to stick to them all. Start small, it could be something as simple as increasing your water intake and make sure you nail that before you go focusing on something else.”

Best Advice you ever got: “Definitely, ‘Don’t compare your step 1 with someone else’s step 10′”

How do you get motivated: “Setting goals and working towards beating them.”

Sporting Goal for 2022: “I’m hoping to stay injury free and grab every opportunity that comes my way.”
Advice on sticking to your goals: “Every Sunday, write down what you want to achieve that week. And at the end of the week, do a quick slef review and see if you achieved it. If not, make changes for the following week.”

Ireland Rugby 7s/Xvs: Stacey Flood (Dublin)

Advice for everyday Athletes: “Enjoy every single training session you do because not everyone gets to what you do and what you can do.”

Best Advice you ever got: “Hard work beats talent when talents doesn’t work hard.’ I believe if you work hard in whatever you do, it will go a long way in getting you where you want to be.”

How do you get motivated? “I always bring it back to why I am there and who I am doing this for. It’s also really easy to motivate yourself when you’re in a good group of players or training partners.”

Sporting Goal for 2022: “To quality and compete at the World Cup 7s in Cape Town in 2022″
Advice on sticking to your goals: “Find a way to hold yourself accountable. Whether it’s writing it down in a diary or journal, or finding a training partner that will motivate you and keep you going, or maybe even buying a smartwatch that will show you all your fitness data, just find something that will help you in that sense.”

Cavan LGFA & Collingwood AFLW: Aishling Sheridan (Cavan)

Advice for everyday Athletes: “It might sound simple, but investing in some top quality gym gear and footwear is great for preventing injuries firstly, but it will also motivate you to train.”

Best Advice you ever got: “The best advice I ever got was to not be afraid of making mistakes. Not everything will go 100%, because you learn from mistakes.”

How do you get motivated? “Wanting to better myself every single day.”

Sporting Goal for 2022: “To give everything I can when I play and to leave every ounce of energy on the pitch.”
Advice on sticking to your goals: “Make sure you get a diary plan so you can work out your days and weeks ahead. It will keep you motivated and give you direction and routine.”

International Long-Distance Runner: Grace Lynch (Kerry)

Advice for everyday Athletes: “My advice to you is to invest in a really good pair of running shoes. I love the ASICS Novablast 2 for my easy running days.”

Best Advice you ever got: “It’s something that I still abide by today, and it’s as simple as enjoying your training, making sure you do it for you.”

How do you get motivated? “Setting short term and long term goals. Write them in your training diary and every thing else you do on your sessions, because you can then look back and see your improvements.”

Sporting Goal for 2022: “I am aiming for PBs in the 10k road and also the half marathon.”
Advice on sticking to your goals: “Track everything. Improvements keep you hungry and wanting more.”

Team Ireland Boxer: Gráinne Walsh (Offaly)

Advice for everyday Athletes: “A good friend of mine told me that comparison is the thief of joy. You see so much of peoples’ lives these days through social media like Instagram and everyone is comparing their’s to others. I would tell people to only focus on being the best version of yourself, and no one else.”

Best Advice you ever got: “The best advice I can give is to be honest with yourself. Set a goal and stick to that goal and never let that negative voice in your head get the better of you – always stay one step ahead.”

How do you get motivated? “I think about the time recently when I spent 18 weeks in a cast and was unable to train. So I push myself over all them hard times, thinking about what I want to achieve and I use this every single day.”

Sporting Goal for 2022: “I want to get back on the World stage competing for Ireland.”
Advice on sticking to your goals: “Write everything down on a Sunday night for your week ahead. I also write down what I am grateful for at the end of every day – it’s great to keep you grounded and humble,”

Republic of Ireland: Rianna Jarrett (Wexford)

Advice for everyday Athletes: “Set goals that are measurable and realistic. Break your long terms goals down into short-term goals.”

Best Advice you ever got: “Don’t let setbacks define you, use them as motivation.”

How do you get motivated? “The beauty of playing team sport is that you’re pushed daily by the people around you, like the players and management, which really helps me keep going.”

Sporting Goal for 2022: ““To break back into the Irish set up and qualify for the Fifa 2023 Womens World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.”
Advice on sticking to your goals: “Make sure you have the right tools to get the job done. I use a journal on a daily basis, and I’m also loving my adidas Ultraboost 21 and massage gun for my recovery.”

You can also read about Rianna’s top 5 favourite weight training exercises for women here:

Conclusion

We hope some of this advice from these top Irish female athletes will help you and your training.

Hear from them below.

At Home Resistance Band Workout with Bundee Aki

Posted on December 20, 2021 at 1:33 pm.

Written by Ger Flanagan

Bundee Aki is a big fan of resistance bands and he’s going to show us his favourite at home resistance band workout exercises.

Resistance bands are incredibly practical and allow you to do a workout pretty much anywhere.

So why not try out these simple exercises next time you’re at home or in the gym – get them HERE:

At Home Resistance Band Workout: Bicep Curl

“Benefits of a bicep curl I find is that it helps me develop my lower and upper arm strength and also helps me with my rugby when I go into contact and I am holding the rugby ball as hard as I can or as tight as I can so people don’t strip it off me.

“Résistance bands work for warm up and and a workout as well when you’re doing a bicep curl.”

Instructions

Place yourself in the middle of a resistance band. Place the central piece of your resistance band on the floor while holding the ends. Step one foot onto the band, so the band is in the centre of your foot. Then, with your feet shoulder-width apart, place your other foot on the resistance band. Ensure that the band does not shift and that your feet are at ease.
Hold the resistance band’s ends in your hands. While performing your workout, stand with your back straight and your eyes forward. Maintain a straight line with your arms at your sides, palms facing inward. Maintain a modest amount of tension between your hands and feet by holding the band. Some resistance bands incorporate handles to make them easier to grip. Otherwise, grab them and squeeze them as tightly as possible.
Hold your curl for 2-3 counts by bending your elbows. Raise your hands to stretch and tighten the ends of the resistance band. To avoid the bands snapping or slipping, use a slow, controlled motion. To work your muscles, bring your hands in front of your shoulders and flex your biceps for 1-2 seconds.
Hold dumbbells in addition to the resistance band to make your curl more difficult. You can raise both arms at the same time or alternate arms with each curl.
To finish your rep, slowly lower your arms. Straighten your arms out again at the same regulated speed after you’ve finished counting. If you let go of the bands as you lower your arms, you risk injuring yourself. Rest for 1 count after your hands are at your sides and the resistance band feels loose again before continuing your reps.
During your workout sessions, do 2-3 sets of 10-15 reps. During your curl, don’t lift your feet since the resistance band may shatter and injure you.

At Home Resistance Band Workout: Tricep Extension

“The difference between doing a bicep curl is obviously working the front muscle of your arm. When you’re doing a tricep extension, it’s working that muscle on the back of your arm.

“You can also do an overheard extension, which also hits the back of the arm but isolates the muscle a bit more because you’re trying to stay still.”

Instructions

Attach a substantial item above your head, such as a door jamb, to which you can safely attach an exercise band. With your elbows bent and by your side, grab the band’s ends. Straighten your elbows while tucking them into your sides. Return to the starting position slowly. Repeat.
Only move your elbow. Make no movements with your waist, shoulders, or back. Maintain good balance and form by contracting your abdominals.

At Home Resistance Band Workout: Band Pull

“There is a lot of benefits you can get out of a pull apart band resistance.

“It helps with your strength, as well as your back and your shoulders. It’s a good exercise to warm up and also a good workout to get the upper body ready for a big session.”

Instructions

Hold an exercise band out in front of you at roughly chest height while standing up straight. Hands should be at least shoulder width apart. Then, pressing your shoulder blades together, pull the band apart. Then go back to where you started. Try to complete 30 per day. If your band’s resistance is too easy or too difficult, you can adjust it. Only move your elbow. Make no movements with your waist, shoulders, or back. Maintain good balance and form by contracting your abdominals.

If you liked Bundee Aki’s workout, why not check out 5 of the Best Weight Training Exercises for Women, with out other brand ambassador, Rianna Jarrett.

We’ve also got a top range of Home Gym equipment available HERE.

Jersey Print | Personalisation at Intersport Elverys

Posted on November 24, 2021 at 1:00 pm.

Written by Intersport Elverys

Are you interested in getting your favourite football player’s and number printed on your personalised jersey?

Intersport Elverys can do just that, available in select stores and online. We’ve got all the best Premier League jersey print for you – so what are you waiting for?

Check out our huge range of Football Jerseys HERE.

Check out the stores below.

We also provide a custom embroidery service, check it out HERE.

Jersey Print: Where can I get it?

Jersey print and personalisation is available in Intersport Elverys in select stores only and online.

For teamwear, our graphic design and printing department can help you create the football team jerseys and uniforms you have in mind. Choose from dozens of stock designs for team names, numbers, player names and mascots (10 characters maximum and 2 digits maximum).

For personal wear, decorate your own jersey with your favourite player’s number and name or even put your own name on it!

We can also accommodate all novelty tee printing should you require.

Ask in store for details or ring our Printwear department on +353 (0)94 9020317 We can also do this online when you purchase a new jersey on our website.

Stores with Irish Rugby Jersey Print

Galway Retail Park, Dublin Suffolk St, Henry St and Dundrum

Stores with Printers

Dublin, Blanchardstown Dublin, Fonthill Street Dublin, Swords Dublin, Dundrum

Dublin, Suffolk Street Dublin, Henry Street Athlone, Golden Island

Mullingar, Lakepoint Arklow, Bridgewater Galway Retail Park

Thurles, Shopping Centre Sligo, Johnston Court Castlebar, Bridge Street

Limerick, Crescent Shopping Center Kilkenny – Parliament Street Cork, Oliver Plunkett Street

Online Jersey Print & Personalisation

To get your jersey personalised online, just follow the steps below:

– Go to the Intersport Elverys website HERE.

– Head to the football section and select the jersey you want personalised.

– First, select your jersey size.

– Then select the button that says “PERSONALISE THIS PRODUCT”.

– A pop up will appear. This is where you enter the name you want on the jersey (max 10 characters) and the number (max 6 digits).

– When finished, select “Confirm and add cost to total”.

– You will then need to checkout and pay for your purchase.

– Finally, enjoy!

**Important – You must be purchasing a new jersey, to avail of online personalisation.

Conclusion

Shop football at Intersport Elverys HERE.

Christmas Gifts For Her | Gift Guides 2021

Posted on November 10, 2021 at 4:30 pm.

Written by Intersport Elverys

It’s not always easy to buy for the special woman in your life but this Gifts For Her Guide should make it easier for you!

Everyone has a wish list for Christmas 2021 so to give you some inspiration, we’re looking at the latest and top products across our top range of brands.

We’re Inspired by Sport this year, so take a look below at some of our gifts ideas for her.

We’ve also got some Christmas Gift guides for him and Christmas gift guides for those special kids in your life.

Gifts Ideas For The Sport Fanatic

GAA

The new GAA season is nearly upon us, have you got your colours sorted yet?

Don’t worry if you don’t, because there is still plenty of time left and Intersport Elverys is here to help you.

We have GAA gear from all 32 counties, from jerseys to hats, including the Mayo GAA 2021 Women’s Fit Home Jersey and the Dublin 2021 Home Women’s Jersey and the Portland training ranges.
There’s also the Galway Home Women’s Jersey and we’ve got a host of GAA Christmas Jumpers too!

Check out our full GAA range HERE.

Rugby

The rugby season is back on track and we have some great gift ideas for the special women in your life.

As official sport retail partner of Connacht Rugby, we have the full range of jerseys, jackets, training gear and more.

Also, we’ve got the new Canterbury Irish Rugby gear and the latest British & Irish Lions.

Take a look at our full range HERE.

Football

We’ve got a fantastic range of football jerseys and gear to have under the tree this Christmas.

The new orange FAI Away Jersey has been really popular since it’s launch. And as official retail partners of the FAI, we love it too.

Not only do we have the national team covered, we also have Premier League teams and our Airtricity League range.

Take a look at our full range HERE.

Gift Ideas For The Runner

Footwear

This year one thing is for sure, running and walking has been picked up by the masses, so a new comfortable pair of runners for under the tree would be a welcomed sight for many.

Getting footwear which is comfortable and durable are key when choosing runners and we have all this and more across the top running brands.

Some we have in mind for you are the very reliable ASICS Gel-Kayano 28 Women’s Running Shoe, the Brooks Ghost 14 Reflective Women’s Running shoe or the Under Armour Charged Rogue 2.5 Storm. And lets not forget the super cool Hoka Speedgoat 4 Women’s Runner.

All options are perfect for Winter running and would be a great gift to get started in the new year.

Or, why not check out the ASICS Running Range or the Brooks Running Range.

Take a look through out full footwear range HERE.

Clothing

Being warm, dry, safe and seen on the road when running is a thought every runner thinks of before facing the elements.

Right?

Clothing that ticks these boxes while also having an element of style to it would be a great gift for the runner in your life – like below.

The adidas Marathon Jacket in White, the dazzling Energetics Womens Coral IV Tights or the Nike Women’s Dri-Fit Race T-Shirt tick all those boxes.

Find all that and much more HERE.

Running Accessories

Looking to add extra bits to your gift, we’ve a number of essential running accessories to help them brave the Winter weather.

How about the cool Nike Alpha Ultrabreathe Sports Bra, the Brooks Fusion Midweight Gloves or the warm and cosy New Era New England Patriots NFL Bobble Beanie.

Check out our full range HERE.

Gift Ideas for The Trainer

Footwear & Clothing

Training will always be essential for so many of us and looking good when training is important for a lot too.

Inspire their workout wherever it may be with some of the latest training product across top brands.

The Skechers Arch Fit Women’s shoe has been very popular this year, as has the Puma Favourite Heather Tee Shirt and has this The North Face Half Zip.

But we have so much more than that too, so check out our full Training Range HERE.

Training Essentials

Every training addict will appreciate the tools that make it happen and we have a wide range of training essentials that are sure to tailor to whatever way a person trains.

Take a look at the Body Sculpture Massage Gun for those who really value their recovery; or how about a new Body Sculpture Yoga Mat to get your yoga groove on.

Or if you like to do some weights at home, these Body Sculpture 10kg Dumbbell set are perfect to get started.

Our full training range can be found HERE.

Wearable Tech

A piece of equipment that is slowly becoming essential for every gym goer, runner or an active worker is a smart watch or fitness tracker.

The latest Fitbit Ace 3 Fitness Tracker is jam-packed with technology and very affordable too. While the Garmin Venu is top of its league, just like the stylish Fitbit Luxe Smartwatch.

Check out all our wearable tech right HERE.

Gifts for the Style Minded

Footwear

If you’re buying for someone who prefers the style over functionality then we have a number of great products for you.

The North Face tent Mule Bootie will turn heads everywhere, while the adidas VL Court 2.0 are a timeless classic. And we all know you can’t go wrong with a pair of Nike Air Max SC .

You can find plenty more style minded trainers HERE.

Clothing

Some of these trainers need some comfortable and stylish tops to match, so check these out.

Stand out from the crowd in The North Face Women’s Diablo Down Jacket, or the Nike Therma-Fit Repel Jacket. Or what about the Nike Dri-Fit FC Pullover Hoodie?

You can find our full range HERE

Finishing Looks

Why not top off these looks with some of our most fashionable finishers, like the Under Armour Storm Insulated CGI Beanie or the adidas 3S Cap in white. Or the super cool New Era Green Bay Packers Beanie.

Check out all our hats and caps HERE or below.

Discover the Heart of Sport at Intersport Elverys this Christmas 2021.

Check out our full ranges to gift this Christmas 2021 HERE and Shop Local.

Everyone at Intersport Elverys wishes you and your family a very happy, safe and magic Christmas.

Christmas Gift Ideas For Kids | Gift Guides 2022

Posted on November 9, 2021 at 3:30 pm.

Written by Intersport Elverys

Christmas is a big deal for all kids (young and old) and here at Intersports Elverys we have you sorted for all gift ideas for Christmas 2022.

Comfort is key for kids as they are always on the go, so look no further, we have everything you need this festive season to kit out the young ones.

That includes a wide variety of product ranges to suit everyone from top brands such as Nike, adidas, Puma and many more.

We’ve also got our gift guides for those special kids right HERE and gift guides for her right HERE.

Take a look below for our Christmas gift ideas for kids.

EVERYDAY WEAR FOR BOYS

Boys will be boys – we know that – but that’s fine because we have a great range of everyday casual wear, perfect for those busy lads on the go.

There’s lots to choose from.

Take a browse at some of our top picks including the Nike Swoosh Synthetic Filled Jacket, or the Under Armour FLC Full Zip Hoody. We also have the really popular O’Neills Skinny Tracksuit pants or the super cool The North Face React Half Zip.

For those big football fans, don’t miss our adidas Messi range.

Check out the full Boys range HERE or below.

EVERYDAY WEAR FOR GIRLS

At Intersport Elverys we know that style and comfort are equally important for girls and we have a wide variety of Pants, Tops, T-Shirts and much more to suit those requirements.

Some of our featured products include the Nike Dri-Fit Long Sleeve Half Zip, the Nike Girls Pro Tights or the Energetics Funda 6 Full Zip Hoodie. We also love the Under Armour Girls Rival Fleece Joggers.

We have a lot more everyday wear for girls, so check them out HERE or below.

FOOTWEAR FOR BOYS

Good footwear is so important for boys covering a lot of ground!

It’s also essential to help support growing kids, with comfort being a crucial aspect.

We’ve picked out some of our most popular, comfortable and stylish footwear like the adidas Boys Race TR21– perfect for schoolwear; or the ASICS Junior Boys Running shoe. Also proving popular is the classic Nike Air Max Bolt or if you want something for lounging around the house in, these North Face Camo Slippers are real quality.

Head over to our website to find our full range footwear for boys or click on HERE.

FOOTWEAR FOR GIRLS

For girls, the Skechers Heart Lights Junior shoe has been really popular this year, while the Puma Carina Black shoe is perfect for school.

In terms of style and comfort, you also can’t go wrong with the pretty Nike Air Max Bolt while the adidas Adilette Aqua Girls sandal is a must-have stocking filler.

Head over to our website to find our full range footwear for girls. Find them HERE.

JERSEYS

Do you have a Football or Rugby mad kid?

Why not treat them to their favourite team jersey this Christmas?

Whatever team they support Republic of Ireland, IRFU, Connacht or Liverpool, or what about Man United, Dublin GAA or Mayo GAA to name just a few?

To shop all of our jerseys, head over to our website HERE or shop in-store.

FOOTBALLS

For any football mad kid, you can’t go wrong with getting them a football to kick around the grass for hours on end.

We’ve got a massive selection and some great deals to choose from.

There’s the adidas Champions League Final , or the cool adidas TIRO Club Football or the Nike Premier League Strike 2021 Football . And if their a GAA kid, why not an O’Neills Size 5.

Check out our full range HERE.

ALTERNATIVE PRESENTS

And if you’re looking for something a bit different for your child – we’ve got that too.

How about the Precision Multi Sport Steel Goal for the backyard?

Or we’ve also got the Speedo Bio Fuse Training Fin for any watersport enthusiasts? Or the Wilson Federer Junior 26 Tennis Racket for any aspiring tennis players.

Don’t forget to check out our full Christmas range below or in-store!

Everyone at Intersport Elverys wishes you and your family a very happy and safe Christmas.

Top Tips from the Connacht Rugby Team

Posted on October 11, 2021 at 1:55 pm.

Written by Ger Flanagan

As Official Sports Partners of the Connacht Rugby team, Intersport Elverys recently got exclusive access to some of their star players ahead of the new season.

Kieran Marmion, John Porch and Tom Farrell have all established themselves in the famous green jersey having moved here from various times and shared their top tips to success just for you.

We’ve also featured Connacht Rugby’s Jack Carty, who showed us his secrets to kicking success.

Before we start, you can check out our latest Connacht Rugby Team ranges here.

And if you want to get to know more about the Connacht Women’s Rugby team, you can read that HERE.

Introducing the Connacht Rugby Team

Kieran Marmion

A native of Wales, the 29 year-old has played his international rugby with Ireland since his teens and made his full debut in 2014.

The scrum half got called up to the Irish U-20 team through the Irish Exiles programme before signing for the Connacht Academy in 2011.

In 2014 he made his senior International debut, coming off the bench against Argentina and has been a regular in the Connacht side.

John Porch

The Australian native caught the eye of Andy Friend when he was Head Coach of the Australia Sevens team in 2016.

In his first nine appearances for Australia, Porch scored 96 points and earned a place at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016. In the 2017/18 World Series he went on to score an impressive 28 tries throughout the competition.

After signing 2019/20, Porch has developed into an exciting full back and has plenty to offer Connacht going forward.

Tom Farrell

The 28 year-old centre signed for Connacht in 2017 after a stint with Bedford Blues in the Championship in England.

The former Irish U-20 star broke onto the scene in the Leinster Academy in 2013/14. before making overseas to the England in 2016.

The Dublin native has started the 2021 season with a bang and is keen to press on after suffering a cruciate ligament injury against Zebre in 2019.

Connacht Rugby Team’s Top Tips for Playing

Kieran Marmion

“My Top Tip for play as a scrum half is to practice, practice, practice on the basics of the game – the catching, the throwing and the kicking.”

John Porch

“My Top Tip to play as a full back is to be consistent under the high ball and on your kicking and catch-pass.”

Tom Farrell

“My Top Tip for being a professional rugby player is to always believe in yourself back your ability. You’re in that environment for a reason, so remember that, and always believe in yourself.”

What Advice Would You Give to your Teenage Self?

Kieran Marmion

“My advice is to just enjoy the game and keep working hard.”

John Porch

“The advice I would give to my teenage self or an aspiring Connacht Rugby player is to enjoy the game you play and any set backs you might get, keep striving and keep believing in yourself.”

Tom Farrell

“The piece of advice I would give is to play to your strengths and keep practicing your point of difference.”

Best Thing About Playing for the Connacht Rugby Team

Kieran Marmion

“The most enjoyable aspect of playing with Connacht is definitely playing with your friends and playing in big games in the Sportsground.”

John Porch

“My favourite thing is getting out there and trying to improve yourself in training every single day.”

Tom Farrell

“Definitely running out in the full Sportsground or packed out stadium with your friends and family in the crowd.”

Favourite Part of Training

Kieran Marmion

“A game of touch in the sun, definitely.”

John Porch

“A foot race against Tiernan O’Halloran!”

Tom Farrell

“Back line versus back line, attack and defence.”

If you enjoyed reading some of the Connacht Rugby Team Top Tips and advice, check out our Connacht ranges below.

The Ultimate Guide to getting started in Ireland Womens Rugby

Posted on August 31, 2021 at 3:44 pm.

Written by Ger Flanagan

Rugby in Ireland is riding a crest of a wave right now and Ireland Womens Rugby is no different.

Interest nationally is growing exponentially and the sport is attracting more and more players, and media interest, as the weeks go by.

In this blog we’re going to talk all things regarding Ireland Womens Rugby, be it signing up to play to the first time, the current national team, along with some top tips from some current stars.

Fortunately we’ve got Connacht Women’s Rugby stars Ursula Sammon, Nicole Fowley and Megan Walsh to talk us through how they started their careers.

They’ve also shared their tips on getting started in women’s rugby.

If you’re already a rugby player, you might enjoy our kicking tutorial by Connacht Rugby star Jack Carty.

How do I join an Irish Womens Rugby Team?

The first step, whether you’re an adult or a child looking to join a rugby club, is to hunt for one in your area.

A lot of major towns will have a rugby club, and if you’re not sure where to start, check the following link about finding your local club.

Many rugby clubs also hold trial days where you go along, meet the coaches, and decide whether rugby is the sport for you.

Others will invite you to attend a training session to meet the coaches and players before deciding whether or not you want to join for the season. From there, you can begin by training with the team on a weekly basis, learning the rules and key skills, and then putting them into practice in a game when you and your coaches believe you are ready.

Rugby clubs all across the world welcome anyone who wants to play, coach, support, or volunteer and Ireland Womens Rugby is no different.

And don’t worry if you don’t fully understand the game, check out our Ultimate Guide to Explaining Rugby Positions.

Our Journey with Connacht Womens Rugby

Ursula Sammon (pictured)

“I got involved in playing rugby through school. Other girls were trying to get us down to the pitch to get a team going.

“I was only 17 at the time and playing other sports so I decided to give it a go and haven’t looked back since. I really enjoy the physical side of it and I love every minute of playing.

“Rugby was popular in my school and it was encouraged to play so it made it a lot easier, but I have to say when I got the call up to the Connacht team, it really was a highlight for my career.”

Nicole Fowley (pictured)

“I was introduced to the game at a later stage when I was about 19 years-old.

“I started playing tag rugby at my local club, Sligo, and they then set up a senior womens team and that’s where I got my first involvement before moving to Galwegians and Connacht.

“I also played a lot of other sports, Gaelic, soccer, and only for my friend dragged me along to a training session, I might not be here, but I’ve loved it every since that day.”

Megan Walsh

“My Dad was a big rugby man all his life and I started through him after he brought me along to training one day.

“From then on I was hooked. I started my career with my local club Connemara and then when I moved in to the City started playing with Galwegians, before getting to represent Connacht, which I love.”

Top Tips on Getting Started in Womens Rugby

Ursula Sammon

“I would encourage all girls to get involved in rugby, no matter your age.

“I was encouraged by another girl to start the game and without her, I don’t think I would be where I am today. So encourage all girls to join, even if it’s only tag rugby at first.

“Tag is a great way of seeing if you enjoy the sport and then if we want to go into contact – do. It’s not as scary as you think it is.”

Nicole Fowley

“My advice for anyone who is considering starting rugby, be it parents and their kids, teenagers or adults, just jump into training and see how you get on.

“It can seem scary from the outside looking in but when you are there, with your teammates and in that environment, it is one of the best places you can be.

“The camaraderie of a team, with everyone working towards the same goal and having fun on the pitch, is something I would definitely recommend. So take the leap.”

Megan Walsh (pictured)

“One of the best things about playing rugby is just meeting new people and making new friends.

“It can be terrifying coming into a new team or joining a new club, but from my experience, all the girls have been nothing but lovely and really welcoming.

“You build great relationships, experience new things, which will help you go on and do so much more in the long run. I’m so glad I picked up the rugby ball for the first time and have no regrets about it.”

The Ireland Womens Rugby Team

Ireland’s national women’s Rugby Union team competes in a number of major international women’s rugby union tournaments.

These include the Women’s Six Nations Championship and the Women’s Rugby World Cup. They’ve also competed in the FIRA Women’s European Championship.

Ireland won the Women’s Six Nations Championships in 2013 and 2015. They also won the Triple Crown and the Grand Slam in 2013. After defeating New Zealand in the pool stages, they finished fourth in the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup.

The 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup was held in Ireland and proved a massive success, getting national tv coverage and set a number of attendance records for the Women’s World Cup, with New Zealand coming out on top.

So, as Ursula, Nicole and Megan said, why not take the leap into the world of rugby and see how it goes?

They’ve said it was the best decision they ever made, and it might be the same for you.

And remember, Intersport Elverys, Official Retail Sports Partner of the IRFU, is here to make that journey much easier for you with all the best products from the leading rugby brands, right HERE