New university hub model to help women's rugby target stars from other sports

“We’re focussing on setting up these Centres of Excellence within universities so we can attract other athletes."

IRFU Head of Women’s Performance and Pathways Gillian McDarby. Picture: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

THE IRFU is going down the university hub route to create four provincial Centres of Excellence for the women’s game which it also hopes will eventually produce new All Ireland League (AIL) teams.

And they have also deliberately chosen third-level bases in the hope of enticing more talent from other sports.