The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is to hold a series of combines to identify high-potential female athletes from other sporting backgrounds and introduce them to the elite rugby performance pathway.
The combines aim to offer athletes an opportunity to showcase their physical and athletic qualities and potentially enter a full-time professional rugby environment.
The union says successful athletes could represent Ireland at Rugby Sevens at the LA 2028 Olympic Games or the Rugby World Cup in 2029.
James Topping, Ireland Sevens head coach, said: "We know there is a huge amount of untapped athletic potential across Irish sport, and these combines are about giving those athletes a genuine opportunity to see how their skills could translate to rugby.
"Speed, agility, power, and competitiveness are all qualities that transfer exceptionally well, and we're excited to assess athletes in a high-performance environment.
"Rugby offers a clear, fully professional pathway for women in Ireland, and for the right athletes this could be the first step towards representing Ireland at events like LA 2028 or the Rugby World Cup in 2029.
"If you’ve competed at a high level in another sport and are curious about what’s possible, we’d strongly encourage you to come along and test yourself."
Meath All-Ireland winner Vikki Wall was the most high-profile elite footballer to try her hand at rugby back in 2023 when she signed a contract with the IRFU ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
While she featured in a number of Sevens tournaments, ultimately Wall did not make the 12-woman panel for the Games, and subsequently returned to play Gaelic football and Aussie rules.
In 2025, there were 39 Irish footballers playing in the Australia Football League Women’s (AFLW).
"Rugby currently stands as the only full-time professional team sport for women in Ireland, offering athletes an unparalleled opportunity to train, compete and develop in a fully professional environment," said the union.
Ireland’s current senior squad features players who previously played football, camogie, soccer, hockey, netball and basketball.
The events will take place across four university venues, but are not limited to university students and athletes from a wide range of sporting backgrounds are encouraged to attend.
On the day, athletes will be assessed by a highly experienced talent identification panel including Topping, John McKee, Katie Fitzhenry, and the Women’s National Talent Squad coaches from each province, which include former Ireland internationals Niamh Briggs (Munster) and Larissa Muldoon (Connacht).
Testing will focus on the core athletic qualities required for elite rugby performance, with particular emphasis on speed and acceleration, agility and movement efficiency, gym-based strength and power testing.
There will be small-sided games, designed to assess skills such as hand-eye coordination, decision-making, and game awareness
"The combines reflect the IRFU’s continued commitment to widening the talent pool and providing clear, aspirational pathways into the game," added the union.
Ireland, who reached the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup last September, begin their Six Nations campaign away to world champions England on 11 April in Twickenham.
Combine dates and venues:
Tuesday, 24 March:
Munster – UL North Campus
- Gym: 11.00am – 1.00pm- Pitch: 12.00pm – 2.00pm
Thursday, 26 March:
Leinster – DCU St Pat's
- Gym and Pitch: 10.00am – 1.00pm
Tuesday, 14 April:
Ulster – PEC & Queen’s
- Gym: 11.00am – 1.00pm- Pitch: 1.00pm – 3.00pm
Wednesday, 15 April:
Connacht – Dexcom Stadium
- Gym and Pitch: 6.00pm – 9.00pm.
Watch Ireland v Wales in the Six Nations on Friday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to commentary on an extended Inside Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
