Ella wins spot with Ireland in Rugby World Cup

There'll be great excitement in the Berney clan in Kilcullen when one of the younger members of the family marches onto the Stade de France pitch for Ireland's Rugby World Cup match against Scotland next month, writes Brian Byrne.

No, 10-year-old Ella Berney won't be playing — but she has won a place as the young mascot to accompany the Irish team onto the field of play. The daughter of Jamie Berney of Berney Bros Saddlery and his wife Aisling, Ella won the spot by submitting a 90-second video 'team talk' to the Irish players, during which she also had to speak about equality, community and family.

It was part of a Land Rover Defender competition held nationally. Ella's cousin Amelia filmed her and edited the video, which Aisling then uploaded to the competition website.

Ella is in 4th class in St Conleth & Mary's primary school in Newbridge. She has an older brother Max and a younger brother Noah. She plays U10 girls rugby in Newbridge Rugby Club and also U10 girls football in Sarsfields, Newbridge. She also does horse riding, swimming and piano ...

"Her mascot outfit will be waiting for her in the hotel in Paris and all she has to bring are her boots," says her mum. "The prize is for Ella plus one, so Jamie very generously said I should go with her!"

The game is on Saturday 7 October. Which means there'll be be much for Ella to tell her friends at school the following Monday.

Go Ireland! Go Ella!

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