Clondalkin Rugby Football Club is delighted to announce Naomi Fynes as Women’s Head Coach for the 2026–2027 season.
Naomi has been a cornerstone of Clondalkin RFC since joining the club in 2010, and we are incredibly proud to see her progress from player, to player-coach, to Assistant Coach, and now Women’s Head Coach. Her appointment reflects not only her dedication and commitment to the club over the past 16 years but also the strength of the coaching pathway within Clondalkin RFC.
Naomi enjoyed an outstanding playing career, earning Player of the Season for 2015–2016, making over 100 senior appearances and captaining the women’s team for three seasons. Renowned for her exceptional rugby IQ and versatility, she excelled across the second row, centre and flanker before finishing her playing career at number eight.
Her transition into coaching has been a natural one. Naomi spent the 2024–2025 season in a player-coach role, before taking on the position of Women’s Assistant Coach for the 2025–2026 season. Throughout that journey, she demonstrated outstanding leadership, tactical awareness and a genuine passion for developing players, making her the ideal person to lead our women’s programme into its next chapter.
With a deep-rooted connection to Clondalkin RFC, a wealth of playing and coaching experience, and an unwavering commitment to the club, Naomi is perfectly placed to lead our women’s team forward. We are excited to support her in this new role and look forward to an exciting future under her leadership.
We are equally delighted to announce that Nicola Smyth will take on the role of Women’s Assistant Coach for the 2026–2027 season.
Nicola has also been an integral part of Clondalkin RFC for 16 years, enjoying an exceptional playing career that included over 100 appearances, two seasons as vice-captain and Player of the Year awards in both 2012–2013 and 2024–2025. A commanding number 15 throughout her career, Nicola was renowned for her defensive strength, attacking ability and leadership on the pitch.
Although injury brought her playing career to an end in 2025, Nicola remained heavily involved with the squad as Match Day Manager throughout the 2025–2026 season. Her continued commitment to the team, combined with her experience and understanding of the players and women’s game, makes her a fantastic addition to the coaching team.
As a club, we are immensely proud to see two lifelong Clondalkin women stepping into these leadership roles. Their passion for the club, wealth of rugby knowledge and commitment to developing our players perfectly reflect the values of Clondalkin RFC, and we look forward to an exciting new chapter for our women’s programme.
