The IRFU has confirmed that it is offering professional contracts for members of the Ireland women's 15s squad for the first time.
Union bosses are offering 43 centralised paid contracts - a figure that includes deals already in place for women's 7s squad members - with the highest wage believed to be around €30,000 per annum.
The offers come to light ahead of the upcoming two-Test tour to Japan, which takes place between August 20 and 27, and also with the appointment of Gillian McDarby has been appointed as Head of Women’s Performance and Pathways.
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Ireland are the last of the Six Nations countries to offer deals to 15s internationals, after Wales, Scotland and Italy this year followed the path taken by England and France.
The announcements come in the wake of the IRFU accepting the 30 recommendations made in an independent review of the failure to qualify for the Women's Rugby World Cup last year, and after €1m extra was earmarked for the women's game.
IRFU CEO Kevin Potts said: “Today’s announcement of the creation of up to 43 IRFU contracts for Women’s Players is a further strong signal of our intent to foster and grow the women’s game over the coming years and to ensure that our women’s players are provided with the best opportunities to compete at the highest levels of the game in the future.”
Meanwhile McDarby, who was a member of Cycling Ireland's elite senior squad, has extensive experience across business and sporting fields.
She became Cycling Ireland's women’s national development coach and national team manager before, in 2014, becoming the IRFU's women’s rugby national teams program manager.
McDarby became a member of Cycling Ireland's board of directors in 2017 and, two years later, the IRFU's business intelligence analyst (performance department) and in project management for the Union.
Two years ago, she was appointed as the Union's facilities and operations manager at the new high performance centre in Abbotstown.
“It is a great privilege to be appointed as the IRFU’s first head of women’s performance and pathways," said McDarby.
"I have worked across several important areas in the game and believe there is a huge growth opportunity for the women’s game in Ireland and I am looking forward to working with all stakeholders to bring the women’s game to the next level.
"It is also pleasing that my appointment coincides with the formal announcement of contracts for up to 43 female players. This is a major step forward for women’s rugby in Ireland.
“Success in the women’s game will be based on sustainability - creating sustainable pathways within the competition structures, getting meaningful competition structures in place for both women and girls to access the game of rugby at the right entry points and continuing to develop competitive international teams in 15s and 7s.
"That, to me, is success.
“This is an exciting time for the game and while much work has been done, there is always more to do.
"There are no overnight successes in sport, but I know that by working collectively with clubs, players, coaches, staff, and volunteers we can build an ever-evolving environment where young women and girls are supported to be the best they can be.”
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