Jammed women's calendar can bring exiles home, Union hopes

New measures will provide a more meaningful competition structure for elite players

ENTICEMENT: Nichola Fryday is one of several national 15s team members playing for English Women's Allianz Premier 15s sides. Pic: Sportsfile

Irish Rugby’s new Head of Women’s Performance & Pathways believes the measures unveiled by the IRFU to increase female participation and provide a more meaningful competition structure for its elite players will help bring frontline stars back home from English clubs.

Ireland captain Nichola Fryday is one of several national 15s team members playing for English Women's Allianz Premier 15s sides and who turned down one of the IRFU’s first ever professional contract offers, worth between €15,000-€30,000.