IRFU: Developing women’s game in Ireland a ‘major priority’ in new strategic plan

Developing the women’s game in Ireland is a priority for the Irish Rugby Football Union [IRFU] according to its new strategic plan launched on Thursday.

The plan which runs from 2024 to 2028, has set out five areas in which to improve different aspects of the women’s game.

These include a focus on the grassroots game, creating winning teams, leadership and governance, investment and revenue as well as a change in visibility and engagement.

According to the IRFU, a new women’s strategy implementation lead will be appointed by the end of 2024 to oversee the delivery of these aims.

“We are going to recruit a senior women’s lead that reports directly to me, to bring all of the strands of the women’s game together,” Potts told reporters at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday.

“He or she will work alongside Dave [Humphreys, high performance director], Collie [McEntee, IRFU rugby development director] and Padraig [Power, chief commercial officer] and bring all the strands [together] and run it, not like a separate unit because we want to be fully integrated, but to ensure that all the strands are coming together that are set out here and reporting to me that they are on track.

“It needs that coordinated focus.”

When asked about the timeframe for the appointment, Potts said: “We will be advertising for it at the end of the summer so it will be a Q4 (fourth quarter) appointment, and we want to get somebody who fits the bill for this position, it is really important to us.

“I have always had in my head a Q4 appointment, which will give a good run in to the Women’s Rugby World Cup next year.”