THE NAMES OF THE IRISH RUGBY players who have taken up women's professional rugby contracts with the IRFU has been released today.
29 players have taken the professional rugby contracts offered by Ireland.
However, Ireland captain Nichola Fryday, Players' Player of the Year Sam Monaghan, and Rugby Writers' Player of the Year Neve Jones have opted not to take up the deals
Edel McMahon, Hannah O'Connor, Christy Haney, Emma Hooban and Katie O’Dwyer are also reported not to have signed up to the deals
Some internationals have to chosen to remain amateur and pursue separate careers while others will be semi-pro with clubs in England rather than training full-time here.
The contracts offered to the player varied from values of €15,000 to €30,000 per season before appearance fees and bonuses.
It is a landmark week as the Women's XVs High Performance Programme launches, with 29 of our elite female players now fully contracted ahead of the 2022/23 season ⬇️#IrishRugby | #NothingLikeIt
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) November 2, 2022
Dorothy Wall, Linda Djougang, Enya Breen, Natasja Beehan, Dannah O’Brien, Méabh Deely, Leah Tarpey, Kathryn Dane, Maeve Óg O’Leary and Kayla Waldron have all agreed deals proposed to them.
19 Sevens players have also agreed to the new contracts. One of these is Beibhinn Parsons
The Women's XVs new full-time high performance programme officially began in Dublin on Tuesday with medical check-in and athletic profiling sessions under the direction of Ireland Head Coach Greg McWilliams.
Commenting on the start of the Women’s XVs High Performance Programme, McDarby said: “It is a hugely significant day as our Women’s XVs High Performance Programme gets up and running. A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes to ensure we have the right structures in place to support these athletes and it is an exciting time for all involved. We have 29 players contracted across the XVs and 7s Programmes and the contracting process is ongoing.”
Kathy Baker, Natasja Beehan, Claire Boles Enya Breen, Megan Burns, Aoife Dalton, Kathryn Dane, Méabh Deely, Linda Djougang, Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Kate Farrell McCabe, Stacey Flood, Katie Heffernan, Eve Higgins, Brittany Hogan, Erin King, Lucinda Kinghan, Emily Lane, Anna McGann, Lucy Mulhall, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Dannah O'Brien, Maeve Óg O'Leary, Beibhinn Parsons, Aoibheann Reilly, Leah Tarpey, Aoife Wafer, Kayla Waldron, Dorothy Wall
