57-cap prop returns to centrally contracted Ireland group for 2026/27

Experienced Ireland prop Linda Djougang has rejoined the union’s centrally contracted programme for the 2026/27 season.

Last year the 57-cap front-row stepped away from the full-time programme to pursue her career outside of rugby, but remained a player of national interest and started all five Guinness Women’s Six Nations fixtures in 2026.

Sophie Barrett, Kate Jordan, Aoibheann McGrath and Eilís Cahill – who all made their Test debuts at this year’s Championship – have all earned their first national contracts.

This centralised group of 31 players has been announced three months after Scott Bemand’s side enjoyed a record-breaking Women’s Six Nations campaign. This included a crowd of 31,294 at the team’s first standalone fixture at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.

In September and October, Ireland will play four WXV Global Series fixtures. This includes fixtures against the USA Women’s Eagles and Japan, before a two-Test tour of South Africa.

Bemand’s side will also host Japan in a one-off Test outside of the WXV Global Series window.

A number of contracted players are competing int he Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship, which will see Ulster visit Munster and Leinster welcome Connacht to Energia Park.

Gillian McDarby, IRFU Head of Women’s Performance and Pathways, said: “The full-time centralised programme continues to evolve and develop as we look to create the strongest possible High-Performance environment for our players and build towards our long-term ambitions for the women’s game.

“A key part of that is identifying, developing and retaining the best young talent in Irish Rugby, and we’re particularly excited to welcome four young forwards into the programme. They have shown huge potential and bringing them into a full-time environment will give them the opportunity to accelerate their development, while also increasing competition and depth within the group.

“The announcement of this contracted group is not the end of that process. The Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship provides another important opportunity for players across the four Provinces to put their hands up, and there is scope for further contracts to be awarded to players who impress during the Championship.

“We want to continue driving standards throughout the programme and create a competitive environment where players are consistently challenged to develop and perform. That competition, alongside a strong pathway from the domestic and provincial game into the national programme, will be hugely important as we continue to move forward in this cycle.”

2026/27 Centrally Contracted Ireland Women Players

Jemima Adams Verling, Sophie Barrett, Ellen Boylan, Beth Buttimer, Eilis Cahill, Ruth Campbell, Hannah Clarke, Amee-Leigh Costigan, Aoife Dalton, Linda Djougang, Caitriona Finn, Stacey Flood, Eve Higgins, Kate Jordan, Erin King, Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Emily Lane, Lucia Linn, Anna McGann, Sadhbh McGrath, Aoibheann McGrath, Alana McInerney, Jane Neill, Dannah O’Brien, Robyn O’Connor, Beibhinn Parsons, Ailish Quinn, Aoibheann Reilly, Fiona Tuite-O’Sullivan, Chisom Ugwueru, Katie Whelan