Irish Rugby

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Eimear Considine is in line to win her first Ireland cap in more than two years after being called up as injury cover for Meabh Deely.

Munster full-back Considine has not featured on the international stage since April 2022 but recently featured in the women's interpros after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Considine, who has 26 caps, is an experienced replacement for Deely, who sustained an injury playing for Connacht in the interpros.

Meanwhile, Munster's Jane Clohessy has been prevented from linking up with the Ireland squad as a training panellist because of a knee injury sustained against Leinster.

Ireland host Australia in a one-off Test at Belfast's Kingspan Stadium on 14 September before travelling to Vancouver for their WXV1 campaign, which features games against New Zealand, Canada and the United States.

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Ulster will play their festive interprovincials against Munster and Connacht on 20 and 28 December respectively.

When the United Rugby Championship released their fixture list in May, the traditional Christmas derbies had been listed without dates or kick-off times.

Leinster will host Connacht at the Aviva Stadium on 21 December before Leo Cullen's men travel to Thomond Park to face Munster on 27 December.

In another change, Ulster's away game against the Lions in Johannesburg on 28 September will now kick off at 11:55 BST.

URC festive interprovincials

20 December: Ulster vs Munster, 19:35 BST

21 December: Leinster vs Connacht, 17:30 BST

27 December: Munster vs Leinster, 19:35 BST

28 December: Connacht vs Ulster, 19:35 BST

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The Irish Rugby Football Union has announced 37 central contracts across the Women's High Performance Programme as the Ireland Women's XVs and Sevens squads build towards the 2024-25 season.

The Ireland Women's XV will be back in action when they host Australia at the Kingspan Stadium on Saturday 14 September as part of Irish Rugby's 150th Year celebrations.

Scott Bemand's squad then travel to Vancouver for their WXV1 campaign in the autumn, before they turn their attention to next season's Women's Six Nations and Women's Rugby World Cup in England.

After making their debut at the Olympics in Paris, the Ireland Women's Sevens side will return to training in mid-September as preparations for a new HSBC SVNS Series campaign kicks off in Dubai in November.

'An important year ahead'

"It is an important year ahead for the Women's programme, with our XVs squad building towards our return to the Women's Rugby World Cup stage, and our Sevens squad bidding to build on the positive momentum from their appearance at the recent Paris Olympics, so developing depth in our playing resources is a key focus," explained Head of Women's Performance and Pathways Gillian McDarby.

"With this in mind, the alignment between our squads is an important strength as we face into a busy schedule and the consistent conversations between Scott and Allan [Temple-Jones, Sevens coach], as well as our High Performance Staff across both XVs and Sevens, ensures we will give both our Ireland teams the best chance of success on the international stage."

Ireland Women's Contracted Players [2024-25 season]: Kathy Baker, Natasja Behan, Claire Boles, Ellen Boylan, Enya Breen, Megan Burns, Ruth Campbell, Hannah Clarke, Katie Corrigan, Aoife Dalton, Meabh Deely, Linda Djougang, Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Kate Farrell McCabe, Alanna Fitzpatrick, Stacey Flood, Nicole Fowley, Clare Gorman, Katie Heffernan, Eve Higgins, Brittany Hogan, Erin King, Lucinda Kinghan, Emily Lane, Amy Larn, Anna McGann, Sadhbh McGrath, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Deirbhile Nic a Bháird, Dannah O'Brien, Robyn O'Connor, Niamh O'Dowd, Béibhinn Parsons, Aoibheann Reilly, Fiona Tuite, Aoife Wafer, Katie Whelan.

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Ireland women's head coach Scott Bemand has shaken up his backroom team ahead of next month's Test against Australia and the start of the WXV1 campaign.

Bemand, whose side secured qualification for next year's Rugby World Cup with a third-place finish in the 2024 Six Nations, has added former England international Alex Codling as forwards coach.

Codling was most recently Newcastle Falcons head coach but stepped down in January.

Former Leinster and Scarlets coach Hugh Hogan takes over as defence coach while Armagh-born former Exeter fly-half Gareth Steenson is the new kicking coach.

The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) have also confirmed that Ireland's former Grand Slam winner Maz Reilly has joined the coaching team as a 'World Rugby coach intern', while Denis Fogarty will continue overseeing the scrum.

John McKee, previously a senior coach in the set-up, has moved into a new role within the IRFU's women's high performance programme.

"We have recruited an exciting calibre of coaching personnel, all of whom will bring huge experience and expertise to the group," said Bemand, who joined Ireland in 2023 after a stint as England attack coach.

Ireland host Australia at Belfast's Kingspan Stadium on 14 September and begin their WXV1 campaign against New Zealand in Vancouver on 29 September.

Bemand will name an extended squad for the Australia Test on Wednesday.

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Leinster have confirmed that they will play their home pool games in the Investec Champions Cup at the Aviva Stadium in the forthcoming season.

The Irish province were drawn in a pool with La Rochelle, Clermont Auvergne, Bath and Bristol Bears, with home games against Clermont on 14 December and Bath on 18 January making up two of their four group fixtures.

Italian side Benetton are also part of Pool Two but, as with last year, clubs from the same domestic league do not play each other in the Champions Cup pool phase.

The RDS Arena is unavailable for 2024-25 because of redevelopment work so the Aviva Stadium will be home for the majority of Leinster's home matches this season, with Croke Park also available.

Leinster have been runners-up in each of the past three Champions Cups, losing narrowly to La Rochelle in the 2022 and 2023 finals, then going down to Toulouse in extra time in the 2024 decider.

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Ulster have confirmed that Ireland Sevens star Zac Ward will join the province's senior men's squad for an "extended trial" until the autumn international window.

Ballynahinch native Ward, 25, scored four tries for the Ireland Sevens side at this summer's Olympic Games in Paris, helping them finish sixth.

Ward's displays in the sevens code saw him named the men's sevens players' player of the year award at the Rugby Players Ireland awards in Dublin earlier this year.

“It’s great to be welcoming Zac into the squad, as we ramp up preparations for the new season," said Ulster head of rugby operations and recruitment Bryn Cunningham.

"Zac is coming off the back of a successful period playing with the national Sevens set-up, and we feel this is a good opportunity for him to bring his skills and qualities into the group in the weeks ahead.”

Ulster, who are preparing for their first full season under head coach Richie Murphy, have also signed former New Zealand Under-20 fly-half Aidan Morgan and South African wing Werner Kok during the off-season.

Ulster face Benetton and Exeter in pre-season friendlies before beginning their 2024-25 United Rugby Championship season at home to holders Glasgow on 21 September.

Ulster trailed 25-11 in the final ten minutes of their Women's Interprovincial Championship clash with Connacht at Kingspan Stadium but late tries from India Daley and Stacey Sloan, both converted by Vicky Irwin, rescued a draw.

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