Rosie Stewart Memorial Bowl Honors Trailblazing Rugby Player and Cancer Awareness Advocate

An annual rugby match and women's health discussion were held to honor the legacy of Rosie Stewart, an Irish international rugby player who died of breast cancer at age 33.

The Rosie Stewart Memorial Bowl match took place last Saturday at City of Derry, featuring two teams from Northern Ireland.

Stewart, originally from Londonderry, earned four caps for Ireland between 1999 and 2000. She was also a founding member of Ulster Women's Rugby. Her sister, Colette Risely, stated that promoting female health would have been a cause close to Stewart's heart.

Stewart passed away in 2003. The memorial match serves not only to remember her but also to promote female health awareness.

Before the match, a women's health discussion was hosted by Jacinta McCool of the Western Trust and fitness coach Claire O'Hagan. O'Hagan focused on female strength and conditioning, including the impact of the menstrual cycle on athletic performance. McCool addressed breast and cervical cancer awareness, emphasizing that early detection leads to better cure rates.

Kelly Gormley, a player for City of Derry women's rugby club, described the event as "poignant," noting that several squad members have been personally affected by breast cancer.

Gormley referred to Stewart as a "pioneering" player whose efforts helped grow the women's game.

"She started a change for women to play rugby and so we are just marking that at our own club," Gormley said. "These rugby teams are growing really fast and it is a result of decisions she made and took."

Stewart's husband, Adrian, described her as "a girl like no other."