Lynne Cantwell, the head of women's strategy for the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), has expressed excitement over the potential for Irish teams to join a future British and Irish League. This opportunity arises as Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR), currently exclusive to English clubs, has opened a process for interested organizations to join its nine-team competition.

In April, the IRFU confirmed its interest in being part of PWR's expansion. A decision on the IRFU's bid, alongside proposals from the Scottish and Welsh unions, is anticipated within the next three to four months.

Cantwell shared her enthusiasm with RTE, noting the significance of a potential merger between PWR and the Celtic Challenge, which features teams from Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. She stated:

"I think the opportunity is incredibly massive, when we look at the elite competition that we want our national players and emerging players to be part of."

She highlighted the importance of competing with teams like the Red Roses and other international players, emphasizing that PWR is currently regarded as the best elite domestic league in the world.

The IRFU's bid involves extensive collaboration with the Welsh and Scottish unions, aiming for a possible merger by the 2028-29 season. Cantwell detailed the comprehensive data submitted to support their proposal, which included strategy, commercial aspects, performance plans, and stadium accessibility.

As they await feedback, Cantwell noted the complexities involved with PWR's governance, stating:

"It's a competition that's run in England, and therefore the governance and sign-off behind any change takes a couple of layers."

Thus, stakeholders remain poised for developments in the coming months.