DUBLIN — New Ireland women's head coach Lloyd Tennant believes the "foundations are in place" for the team to qualify for future World Cups and climb the global rankings, signaling a new era of ambition for Irish women's rugby.
Tennant, who was appointed in March 2024 following a successful stint with England's Under-20s, emphasized the progress made by his predecessors and the growing infrastructure supporting women's rugby in Ireland. "The work done over the past few years has set a strong base," he said in his first press conference. "Now it's about building on that momentum."
A New Vision for Irish Women's Rugby
Tennant outlined his three-pronged strategy to elevate Ireland's standing in women's rugby:
- Performance: Implementing high-performance programs tailored to Ireland's unique player pool
- Pathways: Strengthening the development pipeline from schools to senior level
- Participation: Growing the grassroots game to expand the talent base
The coach pointed to recent structural changes as evidence of progress, including:
- The introduction of professional contracts for 15-a-side players in 2023
- Increased investment in the Women's Interprovincial Championship
- Improved access to high-performance facilities
World Cup Qualification the Priority
Ireland's failure to qualify for the 2021 Rugby World Cup served as a wake-up call for the sport's administrators. Tennant acknowledged the disappointment but sees it as motivation: "Missing out on the last World Cup hurt, but it sparked necessary changes. Our goal is consistent qualification starting with 2025."
The pathway to the 2025 tournament in England runs through the 2024 Women's Six Nations, where Ireland will face stiff competition from established powers England and France, along with improving sides like Italy and Scotland.
Key Challenges Ahead
Tennant identified several hurdles Ireland must overcome:
- Closing the gap to top-tier nations in physical conditioning
- Developing greater depth across all positions
- Improving consistency in performance
The coach remains optimistic, citing the emergence of young talents like Aoife Wafer and Méabh Deely as evidence of Ireland's potential. "We have players coming through who can compete at the highest level. It's about giving them the right environment to flourish."
Building on Recent Progress
Ireland showed signs of improvement in the 2023 WXV2 tournament, finishing second behind Italy. Tennant believes this experience will prove valuable: "Competing in WXV gave our players exposure to different styles of rugby. That's exactly what we need more of."
The IRFU's commitment to women's rugby has grown significantly in recent years, with annual investment increasing from €1 million in 2019 to over €4 million in 2024. This funding has supported:
- Expanded coaching and support staff
- Enhanced medical and sports science resources
- Improved player welfare programs
The Road Ahead
Tennant's first major test comes with the 2024 Six Nations, where Ireland will look to improve on their fourth-place finish from 2023. The coach emphasized the importance of patience: "Progress won't happen overnight, but every match, every training session is an opportunity to move forward."
Long-term, Tennant aims to have Ireland consistently competing in the top six of the world rankings (currently 8th) and challenging for Six Nations titles. "We're not here to make up the numbers. We want to compete with the best and believe we can."
The coach's optimism is shared by captain Nichola Fryday, who said: "There's real belief in this group now. We've seen what's possible when everything aligns, and we're determined to take Irish women's rugby to new heights."
With the foundations laid and new leadership in place, Irish women's rugby appears poised for an exciting new chapter. As Tennant put it: "The pieces are coming together. Now it's about turning potential into performance."