Women's rugby gets €3.5m cash injection ahead of inaugural Lions tour

The IRFU invest its portion of the funds to develop a “Coach Accelerator Scholarship Programme” and host additional women’s U18 and U20 camps and training matches.

Ireland's Aoibheann Reilly, Eve Higgins and Brittany Hogan celebrate after their Six Nations victory over Wales. Picture: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

Women’s rugby has received a massive €3.5m cash injection from the founding partner of the inaugural British & Irish Lions Women’s team, designed to bolster both elite player development and the grassroots game across Ireland and the UK.

Insurance and investment company Royal London, which funded the feasibility study that concluded a Women’s tour was possible, has announced it was ploughing its cash, to be divided by the four constituent Lions nations of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, into supporting the long-term growth of the game ahead of a historic first tour to New Zealand in 2027.