Lynne Cantwell confident AIL review will strengthen league's long-term future

The review outlined a plan to strengthen player retention through junior to senior age grades and grow the domestic game across all four provinces, while keeping the AIL at the centre of the high-performance pathway

Head of Women’s Strategy for Irish Rugby Lynne Cantwell. Pic: Ben Brady/Inpho

Lynne Cantwell is confident the IRFU’s review of adult women’s club rugby will result in a more competitive Energia All-Ireland League Women’s Division and strengthen the long-term future of the elite senior provincial game.

The IRFU’s Head of Women’s Strategy, Cantwell was speaking as the review outlined a plan to strengthen player retention through junior to senior age grades and grow the domestic game across all four provinces, while keeping the AIL Women’s Division at the centre of the high-performance pathway.

The AIL Women’s Division will expand from 10 to 12 clubs for 2026-27 with the addition of a club each from Connacht and Ulster to provide a more even geographic spread of teams with the plan to split the division into two six-team competitions, 1A and 1B beyond next season. 

Leinster will retain its current five clubs, and Munster its three representatives with Connacht and Ulster having two teams apiece in the new-look structure. The intention is to reduce provincial imbalance and deliver more even contests. 

The expansion will also aim to place less pressure on the clubs outside Leinster to be bulk suppliers for Celtic Challenge/representative rugby, to the detriment of team strength on AIL match weekends.

A short-form competition for 18 to 23 year olds will also be introduced while senior provincial leagues will remain unchanged.

Commenting on the nine-month consultation process to produce the review, former Grand Slam-winning Ireland international Cantwell said: “We recognise there is no silver bullet to accelerate the system change and competition models we are targeting in the Women’s game.

“However, we are equally clear we need reforms to safeguard the future, by creating competition models that strengthen our provincial footprints, grow our base and accelerate performance standards and quality of rugby experience across the whole rugby community in the short and long term.

"We know that Clubs will take time to process the changes, as they care deeply about the game and its ambition, direction and value.

"The proof will be in the delivery: in the long-term nationwide club and provincial health, improved stability, system connectivity and the acceleration of standards through close partnerships with Provincial Branches and Irish Rugby.” 

The IRFU said the new model will retain promotion and relegation, introduce a structured club planning framework, annual club health checks, and a performance support programme for the All-Ireland League Women’s Division teams.

"As part of the new structure, the competition will transition to a 12 team format for the 2026/27 season,” Cantwell added, “introducing the transition to a split League format and including annual mechanisms to build performance capacity in each Energia All-Ireland League Women’s Division club, supported closely by each Province.

“This season’s progression will be guided by end of season outcomes in 2025/26, ensuring the league evolves in a balanced and competitive way.

"As staff increase and the provincial pathway investment programme take hold through early 2026, the Women’s rugby system will experience the system change benefits required for longer term rugby community success.”