Rugby Academy Ireland to launch first women’s U20 rugby team

Fiona Hayes has been announced as the team’s head coach, with Alison Miller joining as backs coach and Jenny Murphy as skills coach

Fiona Hayes. Picture: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

The Rugby Academy Ireland (RAI), a private Kildare-based academy for aspiring professionals, has announced that it’s launching the country’s first under-20 women’s rugby team.

The launch is part of a series of measures being introduced by the academy to promote women’s rugby in Ireland and curb drop-out rates for female players usually forced to jump from under-18 to senior level.