Some rugby careers end with a trophy lifted under the brightest lights. Chloe Pearse’s final match for UL Bohemian was different, but every bit as meaningful. In front of teammates, friends and the Annacotty crowd, the club captain bowed out with a 22-14 win over Blackrock College and the milestone she had been chasing: 150 appearances.
For readers following sports Ireland and the latest Ireland sports news, Pearse’s retirement is more than a club farewell. It is the closing chapter of an outstanding career built on commitment, leadership and a deep connection with women’s rugby in Ireland.
A fitting final chapter for a UL Bohemian great
Pearse, 32, had already decided that the new season would be her last. A persistent back injury, including a herniated disc, had made the physical demands of rugby increasingly difficult. However, she wanted to reach 150 All-Ireland League appearances before stepping away.
That target became possible when the fixtures were released. UL Bohemian faced Railway Union away before returning home to meet Blackrock, two familiar opponents and the kind of demanding matches Pearse wanted to experience one final time.
She made her UL Bohemian debut against Cooke in 2015. More than a decade later, her final appearance came at home, in the Red Robins jersey, with victory secured. It was the ending she had hoped for.
“I wanted to finish in Annacotty, finish at home, finish hopefully with a win against Blackrock,” Pearse said after the match. “Luckily for me, I felt like I got one.”
Leadership until the final whistle
The emotion of the occasion did not change Pearse’s focus. At half-time, she spoke with head coach Sarah Quin about her energy levels and suggested that emerging number eight Elena Pinkerton could make a greater contribution in the second half.
That decision captured the qualities that defined Pearse’s career. Even on her final day, she was thinking about what UL Bohemian needed to win rather than how to extend her own farewell.
UL Bohemian responded strongly after their opening defeat to Railway Union, producing the performance required to overcome Blackrock 22-14. For the club, it was an important league result. For Pearse, it was a chance to leave the field knowing her teammates could complete the job.
A career shaped by success
Pearse leaves UL Bohemian with a record that places her among the leading figures in Irish club rugby. She helped the Red Robins win several Energia All-Ireland League titles and captained the side to three consecutive championships in 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26.
Those finals were all won at the Aviva Stadium, providing a spectacular stage for a player who had spent years driving standards within the club. Last season, she was also named Women’s Division Player of the Year after appearing in all 20 matches and scoring 19 tries.
Her memories, however, are not limited to medals and individual awards. Pearse has spoken about the importance of the people around her, from teammates and coaches to the friends she made through rugby.
Friendship at the heart of Pearse’s rugby story
Her rugby journey began as a teenager with St Mary’s RFC before taking her to Shannon and then UL Bohemian. Across almost 19 years, the sport brought provincial and international experiences, lifelong friendships and the relationship that would become her marriage to Clodagh O’Halloran.
In 2023, O’Halloran proposed to Pearse on the pitch at Virgin Media Park after Munster’s win over Leinster. The couple married last summer, adding a personal milestone to a story already closely linked with Irish rugby.
That human connection explains why retirement feels unfamiliar. After years of Tuesday and Thursday training, team selections and weekends built around fixtures, Pearse is still adjusting to the idea of life without playing.
She admitted that the reality may only fully arrive when UL Bohemian travel to a match and her name is missing from the team sheet. For now, she describes the feeling as relief and contentment rather than sadness.
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What comes next for UL Bohemian?
Pearse’s departure leaves a significant leadership gap, but it also creates an opportunity for the next generation of UL Bohemian players. Pinkerton’s involvement in the final match underlined the depth coming through, while Quin and the squad must now build on the standards established during Pearse’s captaincy.
The Red Robins’ immediate focus will be the All-Ireland League campaign and the challenge of defending their title. Their 22-14 victory over Blackrock provides momentum, but the season will demand consistency from a group adapting to life without one of its most influential players.
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A legacy that will last beyond 150 appearances
Chloe Pearse’s final match was memorable because it brought together everything that made her career special: a home crowd, trusted teammates, a demanding opponent and a result earned through collective effort.
Her 150 appearances will stand as a landmark, but her wider influence cannot be measured by a number. Pearse helped lead UL Bohemian to sustained success, supported younger players and showed how powerful club sport can be when performance and community are connected.
For Irish rugby, her retirement is a loss on the field. For UL Bohemian, it is the end of an era. The next challenge is to honour that legacy by continuing the winning culture she helped build.
Article/Image Courtesy: Irish Rugby