Irish women’s rugby: ‘there are loads of structural issues that are really difficult to address’

What needs to happen at domestic level to ensure the current national success continues?

Listen | 31:44
The UL Bohemians team celebrate winning the 2024 Division 1 trophy. Photograph: Ben Brady/©INPHO
The UL Bohemians team celebrate winning the 2024 Division 1 trophy. Photograph: Ben Brady/©INPHO

The Ireland women’s team is riding on the crest of a wave after World Cup qualification and a victory over New Zealand in 2024. How does the game look below international level, how are things under the hood? There are a number of moving parts within the domestic structure, including the AIL, provinces and Celtic Challenge. The AIL, though, remains the entry point for many women into rugby.

Joining Nathan Johns to review the women’s game in 2024 is Fiona Reidy, a former international and current director of rugby at AIL champions UL Bohemian, and John Cronin, a senior coach at Railway Union. As women’s rugby looks to expand and introduce more professionalism, what needs to happen at domestic level to ensure the current national success continues?

Produced by John Casey.