FIVE Ulster players are among 37 players awarded professional contracts by the IRFU across the Women’s High Performance Programme, as the Ireland Women’s XVs and Sevens squads build towards the 2024/25 season.
Ulster are represented by Sadhbh McGrath, Fiona Tuite, Brittany Hogan, Lucinda Kinghan and Claire Boles, who have all made an impact on the international stage over recent months.
Ireland Women’s XVs are just four weeks away from a return to action as they host Australia at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday, September 14 as part of Irish Rugby’s 150th Year Celebrations, before Scott Bemand‘s side travel to Vancouver for their WXV1 campaign later in the Autumn.
Coming off the back of their historic debut appearance at the Olympic Games, Ireland Women’s Sevens will return to pre-season training at the IRFU High Performance Centre in mid-September as preparations begin for the start of the new HSBC SVNS Series campaign, which gets underway in Dubai in November.
With both squads once again preparing to compete at the highest level on the international stage, the announcement of 37 centralised players contracted to the Women’s High Performance Programme underlines the connection between the squads, as Head Coaches Bemand and Allan Temple-Jones continue to work together to ensure the best chance of success in both XVs and Sevens.
Bemand’s side face into a busy season ahead, starting with the visit of Australia to Belfast and the three-match WXV1 campaign in Vancouver, before the return of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations in March and then Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 in England.
Commenting on the announcement, Head of Women’s Performance and Pathways, Gillian McDarby, said: “We are delighted to confirm the roll out of 37 centralised contracts for Women’s players for an exciting season ahead for our Ireland XVs and Sevens squads. As we continue to create sustainable pathways and develop competition structures, it is pleasing to see a number of young players from our Ireland underage teams step up and be rewarded with senior contracts within our High Performance Programme at the IRFU High Performance Centre.
“It is an important year ahead for the Women’s programme, with our XVs squad building towards our return to the Women’s Rugby World Cup stage, and our Sevens squad bidding to build on the positive momentum from their appearance at the recent Paris Olympics, so developing depth in our playing resources is a key focus.
“With this in mind, the alignment between our squads is an important strength as we face into a busy schedule and the consistent conversations between Scott and Allan, as well as our High Performance Staff across both XVs and Sevens, ensures we will give both our Ireland teams the best chance of success on the international stage.”
Ireland Women’s Contracted Players – 2024/25 Season:
Kathy Baker
Natasja Behan
Claire Boles
Ellen Boylan
Enya Breen
Megan Burns
Ruth Campbell
Hannah Clarke
Katie Corrigan
Aoife Dalton
Méabh Deely
Linda Djougang
Vicky Elmes Kinlan
Kate Farrell McCabe
Alanna Fitzpatrick
Stacey Flood
Nicole Fowley
Clare Gorman
Katie Heffernan
Eve Higgins
Brittany Hogan
Erin King
Lucinda Kinghan
Emily Lane
Amy Larn
Anna McGann
Sadhbh McGrath
Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe
Deirbhile Nic a Bháird
Dannah O’Brien
Robyn O’Connor
Niamh O’Dowd
Béibhinn Parsons
Aoibheann Reilly
Fiona Tuite
Aoife Wafer
Katie Whelan
