In the final month of 2022, Ashleigh Orchard from Belfast received a surprise phone call at her residence. It was David Nucifora, IRFU’s then rugby director, checking if she was willing to sign a deal to join the Irish women’s Sevens squad.
Ashleigh had stopped participating in the World Series matches after her 2018 event in Dubai, only to re-emerge four years later by accompanying the Irish development team to Dubai in December of that year. That was the same month David reached out to her.
David was offering her a contract and wanted to know if she would return the following January, remembers Ashleigh. She agreed but later that evening discovered that she was expecting.
She admitted that she was setting off on a new odyssey and had no intention of either taking up the contract or competing in the Olympics. So she began a couch to 5k program.
By August, Ashleigh and her husband, Johnny, welcomed their daughter, Arabella. Fast forward to today and Arabella is a regular presence at the rugby’s high-performance centre in Dublin, often found nestled in somebody’s arms. She always seems to be somewhere around.
Arabella has travelled globally with Ashleigh, who reclaimed her place on the Irish squad. She’s a frequent sight at the Irish training practices and embedded within the team as they aspire for an Olympic medal in Paris.
Arabella’s journey has mirrored her mother’s and the Irish squad’s, marking a remarkable advancement in Irish sports. When Ashleigh made her comeback to the Sevens in February and subsequently competed in the Singapore World Series three months later, Arabella was by her side.
In a departure from traditional norms suggesting that women athletes must sacrifice their childbearing ambitions or endure the emotional strain of being separated from their child for extended durations during crucial developmental stages, Arabella has become a sort of auxiliary member of the team, intertwining motherhood, athleticism, and the elite Olympic program in a distinctive manner.
Ashleigh expresses that the support she has received from her management and her team has played a significant role in her journey. Balancing a sporting career with being a new mother seemed an impossible task to her initially, as she did not want to be away from her child four days a week. But the IRFU and her team were quite accommodating and encouraged her to bring her daughter, enabling her to maintain her maternal role.
Ashleigh Orchard, previously known as Baxter, has had an extensive career in the rugby field, having been part of the Irish team in the World Cups of 2014 and 2017. At 32, she has represented Ireland in over 80 matches, playing as a fullback and wing.
Following the revelation of the Sevens squad for the Olympics, she has received messages from her former teammates of 2014, with Ashleigh being the only one from that team presently involved at the top level of the sport. Successfully juggling motherhood with a physically demanding career has been her first major victory.
Drawing parallels with Serena Williams’ concerns about returning to tennis post-motherhood, Ashleigh understands how difficult it can be to ensure peak performance while also trying to be the best possible mother.
“Ashleigh spoke fondly of her team’s support, relaying her desire to not let her involvement become an obstacle for them. Initially, she attempted to keep her family affairs separate, however, the squad’s affection towards her daughter eased her concerns. Ashleigh believes her daughter’s presence has brought a positive influence to the team.
Her teammates’ fondness for her child allows them to unwind, which Ashleigh appreciates. Their help with her daughter has made life easier, and Ashleigh lovingly refers to them as her daughter’s ‘aunties’.
Her daughter has accompanied her on trips to several locations like Singapore and Madrid. Should her daughter cause a disruption, her husband will take her out of the room. This gives Ashleigh the opportunity to focus without disturbance.
Heading towards the Olympics, Ashleigh’s childhood dream is about to be realised. As a young girl, she yearned to be an Olympic swimmer but conceded that her physique didn’t fit the bill. On the contrary, she developed an adoration for Olympic champion Kelly Holmes. To showcase her admiration, she even crafted a website devoted to the athlete.
The genesis of Sevens Rugby happened around 2012, which corresponded with the opportunity of joining the Olympics and drew Ashleigh in. However, her aspirations seemed dashed when the team failed to qualify for Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
Even though she gave up on Tokyo, Ashleigh is thrilled at the second chance. She is eager to step foot in Tokyo, regardless of the outcome.
Her daughter Arabella has recently achieved milestones like standing up for the first time and waving hello in Madrid, much to the Irish players’ delight. The forthcoming Olympics will be her first, or so believes her mother, Ashleigh.”
“She expresses hope for future conversations, despite them still being in the pipeline,” she mentions. Not on an Irish contract as she is on maternity leave and wishes to avoid overstepping, her return to employment at Citibank will occur the following Monday after the conclusion of the Olympics. She grins, drawing attention backwards to the training centre and the door Arabella shyly glanced through earlier.
“She held the aspiration of Arabella taking her initial steps on their indoor grounds,” she reveals, “believing it would be a significant event.”