It was November 2022, and Jane Clohessy had just finished performing with her band when her phone buzzed with a text. The message was from Niamh Briggs, the ex-Ireland skipper, asking: “Any interest coming to a Munster session?”
She did not agree straight away, but that text marked the beginning of a brand-new direction for Clohessy’s life.
Growing up in Limerick, rugby was in her blood, thanks to her father, the legendary Munster and Ireland prop Peter Clohessy. Her youth was filled with visits to various grounds and clubhouses. Since she was born in December 1998, she was far too young to remember her father, widely known as “The Claw,” competing for European and Six Nations titles. Nevertheless, she vividly recalls the warm sense of belonging to a massive rugby community.
Clohessy recalled: “A particularly strong memory for me—perhaps because of the old photos we keep at home—is dressing up in a Munster shirt at age three during a Heineken Cup semi-final. The front featured the Munster logo, while the back read ‘My Dad is No. 1.’ That shirt is still in my possession.
“A few years ago, my little brother and I watched some old videotapes. Once he truly understood who our dad was and what he had achieved, he felt quite down about having missed those days. But we are incredibly lucky to still have those recordings.”
Initially, Clohessy focused her sporting energies on Gaelic football and basketball. Rugby did not enter her life again until she was 22, when she was persuaded to join UL Bohemians for a few practices in Limerick.
“I spent a couple of weeks practicing before my debut match,” she recounted, “and I immediately took to the game. However, during the very first play of my debut, my shoulder popped out of its socket. That kept me sidelined for nearly eleven months. My first appearance lasted only half a minute! My big brother thought I’d call it quits right there, but I insisted, ‘Absolutely not, I am definitely returning to the pitch.'”
A year later, Clohessy had just wrapped up a gig with her musical group, Beats N’ Keys, when that life-changing message from Briggs arrived.
“I actually shared a post online recently about this very moment—explaining why it’s so important to seize every chance, even if you feel unprepared or inadequate. Had I declined, my journey would look completely different today.”
The message from Briggs arrived around 10:00 PM, but Clohessy only noticed it past midnight during her drive home to Limerick from Kilkee.
“Niamh reached out to see if I could fill a spot in an upcoming Munster trial,” Clohessy explained. “She inquired if I’d like to participate. Because it was incredibly late, and I was exhausted on my way home from work and in a terrible mood, I initially turned her down.
“My mother, Anna, was traveling with me and urged me, ‘Just go for it, you’ll manage to find the energy.’ I was anxious about the lack of rest since the trial was scheduled for 9:30 AM. Eventually, I messaged Niamh to say I was in. I showed up and, as a result, earned a spot on the Munster squad. It taught me a vital lesson that I now share with the players I coach: agree first, and work out the details later.”
Having debuted for Munster in 2023, Clohessy was invited to join the national training camp the next year. She had set her sights on travelling to Vancouver for the WXV tournament in late 2024, but she was sidelined by a knee problem.
Her international debut was delayed until April 2025, though the arduous path back to fitness made her first cap even more meaningful. She came on for Edel McMahon twenty minutes into Ireland’s tight defeat against Scotland in Edinburgh, with her delighted parents, Peter and Anna, on hand to hug her once the match concluded.
Although several decades separate their respective rugby careers, Clohessy and her father frequently discuss the parallels in their lives. Peter was already a fixture in the Munster team when rugby transitioned to a professional sport in 1995. In fact, his responsibilities on the family farm were a key factor in his absence from the Rugby World Cup in South Africa that same year.
While elite players in the women’s game now hold professional contracts, many others in Ireland must balance their rugby with part-time work or external income. For several years now, Clohessy has been managing her own business, ‘Train by Jane’.
“My work takes me to several gyms,” she noted, “and I support multiple online clients. I truly enjoy guiding them toward healthier lifestyle habits, whether that means giving dietary tips or workout plans. Sometimes my role is simply to listen and support. It brings me immense satisfaction, as does coaching school children.
“I feel like I’m experiencing a phase very similar to what my father went through three decades ago, trying to manage the demands of both work and athletics. We have some great conversations about finding that balance. My parents occasionally feel impatient regarding the pace of progress in women’s rugby. We realize there’s a long way to go, but the sport is undoubtedly on the correct path.”
Clohessy aimed to increase her international appearances during this year’s Guinness Women’s Six Nations. Our first conversation took place in April at Ireland’s High Performance training center, just as she was completing her recovery. While playing for Munster against Ulster in January’s Celtic Challenge, she suffered a fractured arm. After undergoing surgery to insert metal plates, she was targetting a return for Ireland’s home matches when misfortune hit again: she fractured her left arm in another area during practice.
‘My aspirations of representing Ireland remain strong and genuine,’ she shared on Instagram, ‘but they have simply been paused once more.’
Just last weekend, Clohessy donned the Munster jersey once again, helping her team secure an impressive 39-19 win over a powerful Leinster lineup in the opening fixture of this season’s Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship. The 27-year-old teamed up with Clodagh O’Halloran in the second row. Meanwhile, a brace from Anna McGann helped Connacht secure a narrow 15-10 victory against Ulster at Affidea Stadium.
Munster’s captain, Maeve Óg O’Leary, expressed deep admiration for Clohessy’s resilience and influence.
“Jane is absolutely remarkable,” O’Leary remarked. “When you look at what she’s endured this year, breaking her arm, working her way back to the Six Nations squad, and then breaking it again as soon as she started contact training—it’s incredibly tough for any athlete. But her response highlights her incredible resilience and mindset.”
“She is a true competitor. It seems like she views every disappointment as a fresh chance. She focuses on other areas of her life for a bit, but always returns even more determined. Her optimism is incredibly contagious for the whole squad.
“Most people remember her father’s aggressive style and intense passion on the pitch, and Jane matches that intensity. It is incredible to see. Playing alongside her is an absolute joy. When she carries the ball, it often takes four defenders to bring her to the ground. She’s a fantastic teammate on the field, and her positive attitude off it is just as remarkable. She constantly demands the best from herself and everyone else.
“She is incredibly supportive of the younger players rising through the ranks. Moreover, she is always looking for ways to refine her own performance. That dedication is why she has reached this level and continues to challenge for international selection. I’m really looking forward to seeing what she can achieve if she can stay injury-free for a sustained period.”
Next up for Munster, O’Leary, and Clohessy is a home match against Ulster at Virgin Media Park in Cork. Matt Brown’s squad began their campaign strongly against Leinster. Clohessy is thrilled that her former teammates and mentors, Chloe Pearse and Nicole Cronin, are part of the coaching setup.
“Chloe and Nicole were incredible mentors who guided me when I first joined. Chloe has one of the sharpest rugby minds I’ve ever encountered. Her understanding of the game is absolutely exceptional.”
“I initially considered taking up rugby when I was 18,” Clohessy reflected. “For roughly four years, I would exchange messages with my friend Ciara, asking endless questions and mentally preparing myself. Finally, at age 22, I decided to take the leap.
“There are times I wish I had picked up the sport sooner, but looking back, I wouldn’t alter my path. It hasn’t always been easy or perfect, but it has brought me some incredible chances and moments. I’m optimistic there is plenty more ahead.”
