Irish involvement in Premiership Women's Rugby expansion could open new frontier

Welsh, Scottish and Irish unions are interested in being part of the PWR expansions, and English clubs have also said they are.

Ireland hooker Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald welcomes the idea of PWR expansion. Pic: INPHO/Ben Brady

Tue, 02 Jun, 2026 - 15:55

Sarah Rendell

Several clubs including Bath have registered their interest in joining England’s Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR). The expansion of the top flight has no concrete timeline, but the possibility of the league growing has thrown up different discussion points. How will non-professional players deal with travel if a club from another home nation is introduced? Will the expansion aid international competition? And how do players feel about it?

Before those questions are answered, let’s deal with the PWR expansion plans. The expression of interest phase was just an “exploratory” process and not a formal application to join the league. The move is part of the PWR’s 10-year plan to grow a sustainable and competitive league. The top flight is widely renowned as the best women’s club rugby competition in the world with international talent such as Ireland’s Aoife Wafer, New Zealand’s Alana Borland and Canada’s Sophie de Goede involved. However, the league has just nine teams after Worcester Warriors’ demise in 2023.