37 centralised player contracts announced by IRFU

"As we continue to create sustainable pathways and develop competition structures, it is pleasing to see a number of young players from our Ireland underage teams step up and be rewarded with senior contracts within our High Performance Programme at the IRFU High Performance Centre."

Tue, 27 Aug, 2024 - 14:22

Fiona Halligan

The IRFU have announced 37 central contracts across the Women’s High Performance Programme as Ireland Women’s XV and Sevens squads build for the 2024/25 season.

As both squads prepare to compete at the highest level on the international stage, Tuesday’s announcement of 37 centralised players' contracts has been welcomed as it underlines the connection between the squads as Head Coaches Bemand and Allan Temple-Jones continue to work together to ensure success in both the XVs and Sevens.

In four weeks, the Ireland Women’s XVs will be back in action when they host Australia at the Kingspan Stadium on Saturday September 14 as part of the Irish Rugby’s 150th Year celebrations.

Scott Bemand’s side then travel to Vancouver for their WXV1 campaign later in the Autumn before they look ahead to next season’s Guinness Women’s Six Nations and the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.

After their historic debut at the Olympics in Paris the Ireland Women’s Sevens side will return to pre-season training in mid-September as preparations for the new HSBC SVNS Series campaign kicks off in Dubai in November.

Head of Women’s Performance and Pathways Gillian McDarby is delighted to announce the contracts as Ireland strives to continue to improve rugby for women in the country.

“We are delighted to confirm the roll out of 37 centralised contracts for Women’s players for an exciting season ahead for our Ireland XVs and Sevens squads.

“As we continue to create sustainable pathways and develop competition structures, it is pleasing to see a number of young players from our Ireland underage teams step up and be rewarded with senior contracts within our High Performance Programme at the IRFU High Performance Centre.”

Ireland Women’s Contracted Players - 2024/25 Season

K Baker (Sevens), N Behan (Sevens), C Boles (Ulster), E Boylan (Munster), E Breen (Munster), M Burns (Sevens), R Campbell (Leinster), H Clarke (Connacht), K Corrigan (Leinster), A Dalton (Leinster), M Deely (Connacht), L Djougang (Leinster), V Elmes Kinlan (Sevens), K Farrell McCabe (Sevens), A Fitzpatrick (Sevens), S Flood (Sevens), N Fowley (Connacht), C Gorman (Sevens), K Heffernan (Sevens), E Higgins (Sevens), B Hogan (Ulster), E King (Sevens), L Kinghan (Ulster), E Lane (Munster), A Larn (Sevens), A McGann (Sevens), S McGrath (Ulster), A-L Murphy Crowe (Munster), D Nic a Bháird (Munster), D O’Brien (Leinster), R O’Connor (Leinster), N O’Dowd (Leinster), B Parsons (Connacht), A Reilly (Connacht), F Tuite (Ulster), A Wafer (Leinster), K Whelan (Leinster).