Scott Bemand believes Ireland can be World Cup contenders in 2029, after agreeing a three-year contract extension as head coach of the Ireland women's rugby team.
Bemand, who has been in charge since 2023, has overseen Ireland’s impressive rise up the rankings in the women’s game, with two third-place finishes in the Six Nations and second place in WXV 1, before a narrow World Cup quarter-final defeat to France last year.
The Englishman has now committed his future to Ireland for the remainder of this World Cup cycle, where he will lead them to the 2029 tournament in Australia.
"It was an easy decision really for what we'd achieved, the momentum we'd achieved in the two years building up to the World Cup over in England," he told RTÉ Sport.
"To keep that going with the players that we've got coming through, the potential within the group.
"I'm proud to be retained, proud to have the ability to take that group on to the next step."
Three years ago Ireland lost all five games of their Six Nations games to pick up the wooden spoon, but having climbed back up to fifth place in the world rankings, the former scrum-half (below) is setting the bar high for Ireland's long-term plan.
"The challenges get bigger, don't they?" he added.
"First of all, it was all about getting qualification for a World Cup. Then it became about competing hard with the World Cup contenders.
"In three and a half years' time, we want to be at a point in the story that we're writing, that we go over to Australia with a chance of winning the thing.
"There's a few things we've got to get through before then. We've got depth to go after. We've got a game model to evolve. As we do that, we need to chalk off a few milestone pieces so that when we get there, it's not the first time we're trying to beat a France in a quarter-final, that we've already done that before we get there.
"We know what we want to do when we get there. We know some milestones we've got to achieve in that journey towards it. We've got the personnel, we've got the players coming through.
"We've got to hopefully get some consistency within the coaching group. All, hopefully, leads to enabling higher and higher performance."
The head coach named a 36-player squad this afternoon for the Guinness Women's Six Nations, with Ireland getting their campaign underway against France on Saturday, 11 April.
Bemand has included nine uncapped players in his squad for the championship, while he also welcomes Dorothy Wall and captain Erin King (below), after the pair missed out on the World Cup due to injury.
King was confirmed as captain earlier this year, taking over the role from Sam Monaghan and Edel McMahon, the latter of whom misses out on the championship due to knee injury.
And while the back row is relatively inexperienced at just 22-years-old, Bemand believes the 2024 World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the year is the perfect choice.
"Erin is leading the group with as much energy as I've ever seen anybody take a field with.
"She embodies the Ireland player and she role models certain behaviours that we think people would want to get behind. I know I do.
"I saw it in the men's game with Sam Warburton, when Wales named a young captain and they said, 'We've got time here for you to grow’.
"So you don't have to come in as a perfect leader. You have to have perfect intentions to get better. And that's all we're after.
"We've named a leadership triangle and there are girls left and right of her. Some have different experiences. Some are younger. Some have more experience. Some have worn the shoes before. Some are new to it.
"So we've got a really well-supported group that will support Erin in terms of how she develops herself, her own style, how she leads.
"But all I know is that people see her on the pitch and want to get behind her."
Aside from those either injured or retired, there was one notable absentee from the squad, with experienced wing Amee-Leigh Costigan (above) not included.
The former Sevens Olympian, who captained Ireland for the opening game of last year’s Six Nations, will miss the championship after announcing she is pregnant with twins.
"We're delighted with Amee-Leigh's news, starting a family," Bemand added.
"It's really apt for where we are in the story that we're writing, that female athletes can have a family, and there are a few supporting her.
"She's still in training - appropriate training - with us. She's a big voice, a big character around the group in terms of her leadership and experiences that she's had.
"We're using Amee-Leigh to support Erin's growth in the captaincy. She's very much involved.
"As we go through, obviously the spotlight will be on a 36. The group is bigger than a 36."
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