IRFU announce 37 central contracts for women's game

The Irish Rugby Football Union has announced 37 central contracts across the Women's High Performance Programme as the Ireland Women's XVs and Sevens squads build towards the 2024-25 season.

The Ireland Women's XV will be back in action when they host Australia at the Kingspan Stadium on Saturday 14 September as part of Irish Rugby's 150th Year celebrations.

Scott Bemand's squad then travel to Vancouver for their WXV1 campaign in the autumn, before they turn their attention to next season's Women's Six Nations and Women's Rugby World Cup in England.

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

"It is an important year ahead for the Women's programme, with our XVs squad building towards our return to the Women's Rugby World Cup stage, and our Sevens squad bidding to build on the positive momentum from their appearance at the recent Paris Olympics, so developing depth in our playing resources is a key focus," explained Head of Women's Performance and Pathways Gillian McDarby.

"With this in mind, the alignment between our squads is an important strength as we face into a busy schedule and the consistent conversations between Scott and Allan [Temple-Jones, Sevens coach], as well as our High Performance Staff across both XVs and Sevens, ensures we will give both our Ireland teams the best chance of success on the international stage."

Ireland Women's Contracted Players [2024-25 season]: Kathy Baker, Natasja Behan, Claire Boles, Ellen Boylan, Enya Breen, Megan Burns, Ruth Campbell, Hannah Clarke, Katie Corrigan, Aoife Dalton, Meabh Deely, Linda Djougang, Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Kate Farrell McCabe, Alanna Fitzpatrick, Stacey Flood, Nicole Fowley, Clare Gorman, Katie Heffernan, Eve Higgins, Brittany Hogan, Erin King, Lucinda Kinghan, Emily Lane, Amy Larn, Anna McGann, Sadhbh McGrath, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Deirbhile Nic a Bháird, Dannah O'Brien, Robyn O'Connor, Niamh O'Dowd, Béibhinn Parsons, Aoibheann Reilly, Fiona Tuite, Aoife Wafer, Katie Whelan.