Irish womens 15s squad to have player development programme

IRUPA ANNOUNCE INCLUSION OF THE IRISH WOMEN’S 15’s SQUAD TO THEIR PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

The Irish Rugby Union Players Association (IRUPA) are delighted to announce an expansion of its Player Development Programme to now provide membership to the Irish Women’s Fifteens (15’s) squad. IRUPA has successfully been supporting the Irish Women’s Sevens programme since March 2014 and so see this expansion of its support provision as the logical step now that the Women’s 15’s game is under the same High Performance umbrella.

The women will be able to utilise IRUPA’s extensive resources through a Player Development Manager dedicated to supporting the National Women’s Programme, Dr. Kate Kirby. Kate’s role will be to help guide and assist the athletes in undertaking educational, vocational and personal development opportunities. It will encompass areas like scholarship opportunities, media training and player wellbeing.

Speaking on the expansion of IRUPA’s services, IRFU Director of Women’s and Sevens Rugby Anthony Eddy said:

“This is a great opportunity for our international 15’s players to be offered the player development services of IRUPA, and is a further indication of the work being done to continue to align the National Women’s Rugby Programme.”

With women’s rugby now represented on both fronts and presented as a joint international programme Niamh Briggs, captain of the Irish Women’s team echoed the feeling among the players:

“We are delighted to be included in the player development programme offered by IRUPA. Having access to their expertise and networks around the country will be of great value to our players. It is nice to be recognised as a part of IRUPA’s membership and have services available to us that are on a par with those afforded to male players.”