Irish Rugby today announce the appointment of four provincial Women’s Rugby leadership roles, a landmark step in the continued development and professionalisation of the women’s game across Ireland.
The appointments follow the earlier advertising of these positions as part of a coordinated, nationwide strategy to strengthen player pathways and accelerate growth at all levels of the sport.
The successful candidates are:
Connacht: Larissa Muldoon
Leinster: Derek Maybury
Munster: Niamh Briggs
Ulster: Neill Alcorn
The newly appointed leaders will form an integrated provincial network tasked with designing a connected provincial pathway, supporting the progression of 16-23 year old age grade players through to the senior game. These full-time roles purposely sit at the intersection of domestic rugby, age-grade development, and performance pathways and enables creation of a sustainable and aligned system nationwide.
In addition to their provincial remit, the appointments mark a significant evolution of the wider women’s performance ecosystem. Three of the successful candidates (Muldoon, Briggs and Alcorn) transition from roles within the Women’s National Talent Squad (WNTS) and associated pathway programmes, demonstrating both the strength of existing structures and the growing demand for experienced leadership in the women’s game.
As a result, Irish Rugby has confirmed that the three WNTS roles vacated will now be advertised, creating fresh opportunities for coaches and practitioners to engage with high-performance women’s rugby at an earlier stage of the talent pipeline.
Expanding the Pathway
The newly created provincial structure is designed to deliver a sustainable Women’s player pathway spanning 16 – 23 yrs and senior levels. By embedding dedicated leadership roles within each province, Irish Rugby aims to ensure consistency in standards, greater alignment between regions, and enhanced player experiences.
The transition of experienced personnel into these roles represents a natural progression in the system’s maturation. At the same time, it creates a pipeline effect—opening up positions within the WNTS and other national development programmes that are critical to identifying and nurturing emerging talent.
A Unified National Approach
The introduction of these four leadership roles reflects a coordinated national approach to developing women’s rugby, with each province adapting the role to its specific needs while contributing to a shared vision for growth.
Lynne Cantwell, Head of Women’s Strategy at Irish Rugby, said:
“These appointments represent a hugely important step forward for the women and girl’s game in Ireland. By establishing dedicated leadership roles in each province that are centrally connected through Irish rugby, we are building the structures needed to support players at every stage of their journey, within a connected system of people across domestic, pathway and performance rugby.
“Just as importantly, the movement of experienced people into these positions creates new opportunities within our national talent programmes. That ripple effect strengthens the entire system—from emerging players to the coaches and performance support staff who support them—and ensures we continue to build depth and sustainability across women’s rugby.
“It has been a difficult week for women’s rugby in Ireland following the loss of Philip “Goose” Doyle who was so influential in women’s rugby. Knowing him as we did, we know he would be happy to see the signs of growth in the game through the roles being announced, reflecting progress being made and building on the legacy he leaves.”
Niamh Briggs said:
“I am delighted to take on this hugely important role at such an exciting stage in the evolution of the women’s game. There is real momentum building across Irish Rugby, and this role provides a significant opportunity to strengthen the pathway here in Munster and support players as they progress from age-grade rugby through to the senior game.
“The development of a connected and sustainable pathway is vital as we move towards greater professionalism, and I’m really looking forward to working with the players, coaches, clubs, schools and staff across the province to help drive that progress. I can’t wait to get started.”
Driving the Future of the Women’s Game
By investing in both leadership and provincial pathway roles simultaneously, Irish Rugby is reinforcing its commitment to long-term success.
The creation of additional roles within the national system underscores the depth of ambition within the sport and highlights the opportunities now available for coaches, administrators and practitioners seeking to contribute to its future.
These developments come at a pivotal time for women’s rugby in Ireland, as participation continues to rise and the performance pathway evolves to meet new demands.
The establishment of a connected provincial leadership network, alongside expanded opportunities within the Women’s National Talent Squad, signals a clear intent to accelerate growth and performance in the years ahead.