{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{infobox Rugby biography | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|12|21|df=y}} | birth_place = | height = 1.64 m | weight =62 kg | ru_position =Fullback | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | years1 = | clubs1 =Belfast Harlequins | apps1 = | points1 = | repyears1 = | repteam1 ={{nowrap|{{ruw|Ireland}}}} | repcaps1 = | reppoints1 = }} '''Ashleigh Orchard''' (''née'' '''Baxter''') (born 21 December 1991) is an Irish female rugby union player and coach. She has made 87 appearances for Ireland Sevens in the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series, and represented Ireland at the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2014 and 2017.<ref name=award>[https://ulster.rugby/content/2021-22-heineken-ulster-rugby-award-winners-revealed "2021-22 Heineken Ulster Rugby Award winners revealed"], Ulster Rugby, 23 June 2022</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rwcwomens.com/home/news/newsid=2071180.html#ireland+women+seek+another+level |title=Ireland women to seek "another level" |author=IRB.com |date=1 May 2014 |accessdate=12 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911001812/http://www.rwcwomens.com/home/news/newsid%3D2071180.html |archivedate=11 September 2014 }}</ref>
She began playing tag rugby before she joined a club in Lisburn; As of 2014, she played for Belfast Harlequins.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/32204.php#.VBd7kRY9SSo |title=Baxter Brimming With Confidence |author=Irish Rugby.ie(www.Inpho.ie) |date=29 July 2014 |accessdate=16 September 2014}}</ref> For the 2022–23 season, she joined the Ulster Women's coaching team, and took a player-coach role at Cooke RFC. She was named Ulster Rugby Personality of the Year in the 2022 Ulster Rugby Awards.<ref name=award />
She studied Aerospace engineering at Queen's University Belfast.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://qub.ac.uk/sites/QueensNow/Sport/Name,279304,en.html |title=Queen's Student to represent Ireland in Six Nations |author=Queen's University Belfast.ac.uk |date=February 2012 |accessdate=16 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140916060514/http://qub.ac.uk/sites/QueensNow/Sport/Name%2C279304%2Cen.html |archivedate=16 September 2014 }}</ref> She represented Ireland at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=Ireland - Rugby Sevens Olympic Games Paris 2024 |url=https://www.world.rugby/tournaments/olympics/paris-2024/participating-nations/ireland |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=www.world.rugby}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2024-06-17 |title=Ireland Sevens Squads Confirmed For 2024 Paris Olympics |url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/2024/06/17/ireland-sevens-squads-confirmed-for-2024-paris-olympics/ |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=Irish Rugby |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20140904202005/http://www.irishrugby.ie/rugby/fixturesandresults/squads_ireland_women.php?player=105057&includeref=dynamic Irish Rugby Player Profile]
{{Ireland 2014 WRWC Squad}} {{Ireland 2017 WRWC Squad}} {{Ireland women's sevens 2024 Summer Olympics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Orchard, Ashleigh}} Category:1991 births Category:Living people Category:Irish female rugby union players Category:Ireland women's international rugby union players Category:Irish rugby union coaches Category:Alumni of Queen's University Belfast Category:Belfast Harlequins rugby union players Category:Ireland international women's rugby sevens players Category:Irish rugby sevens players Category:Ulster Rugby women's players Category:Rugby union players from Northern Ireland Category:21st-century sportswomen from Northern Ireland Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2024 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic rugby sevens players for Ireland