The IRFU has confirmed 35 central contracts for players in the Women’s High Performance Programme as preparations intensify for the 2025/26 campaign.
The contracted group has returned to training at the IRFU High Performance Centre in Dublin following Ireland’s participation in the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025. The squad is now gearing up for the Celtic Challenge and the 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations.
Seven players have earned national contracts for the first time after progressing through the Women’s National Talent Squad (WNTS) pathway and impressing for the Ireland Women’s U20s last season. Forwards Ailish Quinn, Beth Buttimer, Ivana Kiripati, Jane Neill, and Jemima Adams Verling join the full-time programme, alongside backs Caitríona Finn and Chisom Ugwueru.
Quinn and Kiripati made their senior debuts during the World Cup warm-up fixtures, while Kiripati and Buttimer were part of Scott Bemand’s final tournament squad. Neill, Finn, and Ugwueru have also been involved with senior squads in recent seasons.
The IRFU confirmed that Linda Djougang, Meabh Deely, and Siobhán McCarthy have stepped away from the centralised programme, though all remain “players of national interest.” Djougang has chosen to explore new professional opportunities following the completion of her master’s degree in sports management, but she is still expected to feature prominently in Ireland’s Guinness Women’s Six Nations planning for 2026.
Niamh O’Dowd and Brittany Hogan have taken up club opportunities in England, with O’Dowd joining Gloucester-Hartpury for the 2025/26 Premiership Women’s Rugby season as injury cover, and Hogan set to move to Sale Sharks from 1 January 2026.
The new Celtic Challenge season begins on Saturday, 20 December, with the Clovers hosting Gwalia Lightning and the Wolfhounds facing Edinburgh in a double-header at Energia Park. The competition will offer valuable game time and coaching exposure for centrally contracted players and those of national interest ahead of the 2026 Six Nations.
Ireland will open their Championship campaign against England at Twickenham on 11 April. Home fixtures against Italy (18 April) and Wales (9 May) follow, before a trip to France on 25 April. The tournament concludes with back-to-back home matches, including a historic Round 5 clash against Scotland at the Aviva Stadium on 17 May — the first standalone women’s international to be staged at the venue. Ticket sales for the fixture are reported to be strong. Venues for the home matches against Italy and Wales will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, the Ireland Women’s Sevens squad returns to action this weekend at the Dubai Invitational Tournament. James Topping’s side will begin their campaign against Poland on Friday, with the travelling squad to be confirmed tomorrow.
Gillian McDarby, the IRFU’s Head of Women’s Performance and Pathways, said the announcement marks continued progress in developing the high-performance environment: “We are delighted to confirm the roll out of 35 centralised contracts for women’s players for an exciting season ahead. It is pleasing to see a number of young players from our Ireland underage teams step up and be rewarded with senior contracts. The continued development of players through our WNTS programme is testament to the work being done within the provinces as we strive to build depth moving into the 2026 season and beyond.”
She added that the union is determined “to evolve, grow and develop off the back of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025” across both XVs and Sevens.
Ireland Women’s Contracted Players – 2025/26
Ailish Quinn; Alana McInerney; Amee-Leigh Costigan; Amy Larn; Anna McGann; Aoibheann Reilly; Béibhinn Parsons; Beth Buttimer; Caitríona Finn; Chisom Ugwueru; Clare Gorman; Dannah O’Brien; Ellen Boylan; Emily Lane; Enya Breen; Erin King; Eve Higgins; Fiona Tuite; Hannah Clarke; Ivana Kiripati; Jane Neill; Jemima Adams Verling; Kate Farrell McCabe; Kathy Baker; Katie Whelan; Katie Corrigan; Lucia Linn; Lucinda Kinghan; Megan Burns; Robyn O’Connor; Ruth Campbell; Sadhbh McGrath; Stacey Flood; Vicky Elmes Kinlan.
