The IRFU has officially announced the competition structure for the 2025/26 Energia Women’s All-Ireland League, following detailed consultation with participating clubs and provincial representatives.
The new season will begin on the weekend of 27 September 2025 and will run for 18 rounds, culminating in a semi-final and conference semi-final stage on the weekend of 11 April 2026.
The conference final is scheduled for the weekend of 18 April, followed by the Energia AIL Final on the weekend of 25 April, which will be hosted at Aviva Stadium as part of a double-header with the Men’s Division 1A final.
This will come off the back of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations at international level, but that was the choice that the clubs made to stick with the double header format and the Aviva.
This season’s calendar has been shaped with a range of factors in mind, including international commitments such as the Women’s Rugby World Cup, Celtic Challenge, and Six Nations, as well as stadium availability.
In addition to six reserve weekends, the schedule includes two designated ‘No Rugby Weekends’, aimed at providing rest opportunities for players, coaches, and volunteers throughout the campaign.
The IRFU also confirmed that Ennis RFC will join the competition this season, expanding the top tier to 10 teams.
“It is fantastic to now have both our men’s and women’s 2025/26 Energia AIL season plan confirmed,” said IRFU Competitions Manager Kevin Beggs.
“Fixtures are being finalised and will be shared with clubs shortly. I want to thank our WAIL clubs for their ongoing engagement and extend a warm welcome to Ennis RFC to the league.”
Lynne Cantwell, IRFU Head of Women’s Strategy, welcomed the collaborative approach taken in planning.
“It is essential for clubs to have clarity on their season early,” she said.
“As we continue to finalise the overall IRFU Women’s Strategy, the input from clubs is vital. The women’s game is growing rapidly, and we are at a pivotal moment for shaping its future.”
“The domestic game is central to that vision, and we will soon engage more deeply with the wider women’s rugby community to support long-term development.”
It was confirmed that broader consultation on the national women’s rugby strategy is almost complete, with a focus on building a sustainable and inclusive pathway for women and girls in the game. This is expected to be published shortly.
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