High achiever Lauren Delany: 'I owe my international career to the IQ system'

Currently employed as a performance nutritionist with English Rugby League outfit Leeds Rhinos, basketball was Delany’s first love when growing up, winning 10 schools All-Irelands

Ireland's Lauren Delany in action against Wales. Picture: INPHO/Robbie Stephenson

As someone who didn’t take up the sport until she moved overseas, Ireland women’s winger Lauren Delany is better placed than most to extol the virtues of the IRFU’s IQ Rugby programme.

Established four years ago in an effort to formally identify and develop Irish-qualified (IQ) athletes from outside of Ireland, the Dubliner had only been playing the oval ball game for three seasons when she attended an IQ screening day in the summer of 2018.