| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Rianna Lauren Jarrett[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1994-07-05)5 July 1994 (age 31) | ||
| Place of birth | Wexford,Ireland[2] | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[3] | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Wexford Youths | ||
| Youth career | |||
| North End United | |||
| Curracloe United | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2014 | UT Martin Skyhawks | 20 | (17) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2011–2020 | Wexford Youths | (71) | |
| 2020–2021 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 16 | (2) |
| 2021–2023 | London City Lionesses | 12 | (4) |
| 2023– | Wexford Youths | ||
| International career‡ | |||
| 2010–2011 | Republic of Ireland U17 | 6 | (1) |
| 2012–2013 | Republic of Ireland U19 | 11 | (3) |
| 2016– | Republic of Ireland | 16 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21 January 2021 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 9 November 2021 | |||
Rianna Lauren Jarrett (born 5 July 1994) is an Irish professionalfootballer who plays forWexford Youths of the IrishWomen's National League, and theRepublic of Ireland women's national football team. A prolificforward, Jarrett was theWomen's National League (WNL) Player of the Season in 2018 and 2019.
Jarrett's mother Doreen is from Wexford and had met her Jamaican father David while living in England. The family returned to Wexford and Jarrett began playing football for North End United's boys' team alongside hertwin brother Jordan and their cousin Robin Dempsey. She was forced to leave the boys' team and briefly played for Curracloe, as well as for a Wexford League select team that entered theFAI Women's Cup.[4]
Jarrett received anathletic scholarship from theUniversity of Tennessee at Martin to playcollege soccer for theirUT Martin Skyhawks in 2014. Her 17 goals set a new school record and she won theOhio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Season.[5] After suffering a serious knee injury in January 2015 Jarrett quit her American studies, switching to theInstitute of Technology, Carlow and taking a job withEquifax in Wexford.[6]
Jarrett joinedWexford Youths for the inauguralWomen's National League season in2011–12.
In 2018 Jarrett scored 27 goals for Wexford Youths and was named WNL Player of the Season as the club won aTreble.[7] In June 2019 she scored five times in Wexford Youths' 6–2 win atGalway WFC, amidst reports that her "sensational form" had brought her to "the verge of a step up in level".[8] She finished the2019 WNL season as Top Goalscorer and retained her Player of the Season award.[9]
On 23 January 2020, Jarrett signed a six-month contract with EnglishFA WSL clubBrighton & Hove Albion.[10] In her debut for Brighton she scored two goals againstCrystal Palace in theFA Women's Cup. The season was ended shortly afterwards due to thecoronavirus pandemic, but Jarrett signed an extension to her Brighton contract in July 2020.[11]
Rianna Jarrett signed forLondon City Lionesses ahead of the2021–22 FA Women's Championship.[12] She went on to score on her debut for the club againstLiverpool in August 2021.[13] In January 2023, she left London City Lionesses via mutual consent.[14]
Following her departure from England, Jarrett returned to Ireland, re-joining her hometown clubWexford Youths.[15]
In 2010, Jarrett was a member of theRepublic of Ireland U-17 squad[16] who were runners-up in the2010 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship and quarter-finalists in the2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.[17][18]
Jarrett won her firstcap for the seniorRepublic of Ireland national team in March 2016, in a 1–1 draw withItaly at the2016 Cyprus Cup. Shesubstituted in forMegan Connolly, but nine minutes later suffered ananterior cruciate ligament injury.[19] It was the third such injury of Jarrett's young career, following occasions in April 2013 and January 2015.[20]
In May 2018, Ireland coachColin Bell recalled Jarrett to the squad for aFIFA Women's World Cup qualifying fixture againstNorway.[21] Ireland was eliminated after losing inStavanger but Jarrett won her second cap as an 83rd-minute substitute.[22]
She scored her first international goal on 8 October 2019, in Ireland's 3–2UEFA Women's Euro 2021 qualifying Group I win overUkraine atTallaght Stadium.[23]
Injuries have contributed to attacker Jarrett being slow to fulfil the potential she displayed at the 2010 Under-17 World Cup but, having won her second cap last time out in Norway, the 24-year-old should get the nod.