The opportunity for women’s game in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales has never felt bigger. Behind the record-breaking crowds and hard-fought Rugby World Cup moments lies a simple truth: stronger support systems and an expanding competition calendar are giving players new tools to thrive like never before.
The opportunity for women’s game in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales has never felt bigger. Behind the record-breaking crowds and hard-fought Rugby World Cup moments lies a simple truth: stronger support systems and an expanding competition calendar are giving players new tools to thrive like never before.
Take Rhona Lloyd, for example. One of Scottish rugby’s most recognisable faces, the lightning-fast winger crossed for 20 points at the World Cup, her trademark pace lighting up the tournament. But alongside her, a different kind of story is unfolding.
Alex Stewart, still carving her path, has become a name to watch. 30 tackles in four outings tells you everything about her appetite for the contest. Together, they represent two ends of Scottish rugby’s spectrum, a seasoned finisher and a rising enforcer, both shaped by Scottish Rugby and Edinburgh Rugby.
In Ireland, it’s the blend of flair and grit that stands out. Eve Higgins, a player who seems to glide between positions, racked up two tries and 27 tackles in her World Cup campaign.
Alongside Linda Djougang, a prop who recently marked her 50th international cap and embodies the resilience and strength shown by the ever-improving Irish side. The Green Wave’s story is not just about individual brilliance, but about the structures that allow such a variety of talent to flourish side by side, both internationally for Ireland and at home with the Wolfhounds and Clovers.
Wales, too, has its talismans. Alex Callender is the heartbeat of the Welsh side, a relentless back-row presence whose leadership on the field sets the tone for her teammates, having applied her leadership at Brython Thunder just a few seasons ago.
Then there’s Molly Reardon, whose composure in big moments has already marked her as a future star for Wales. Together, they highlight how WRU’s continued investment in their new domestic sides, Brython Thunder and Gwalia Lightning, is nurturing not just leaders of today, but leaders of tomorrow.
And the results are showing. Both Ireland and Scotland reached the quarter-finals in this year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup, while Wales blooded the next generation on the global stage, during a time of significant change for the Union.
From World Cup veterans to fearless newcomers, these 65 players prove one thing: the future of women’s rugby starts here.
