Ulster Rugby chief executive Hugh McCaughey believes that women’s rugby in Ireland will be “unrecognisable” in the next three to five years due to its rapid development.
According to the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU)’s four-year plan presented in June, women’s football is a priority in Ireland.
The plan calls for the hiring of four contracted provincial teams, which McCaughey said is achievable within the given timeframe.
“We are at the beginning of a really rapid development and I think if you look at the current development, women’s rugby is one of the fastest growing sports on this island, if not the fastest growing,” he told BBC Sport NI.
“The Irish Rugby Union has published its strategy to have a contracted team by 2026/27, so we are now seeing that process really gaining momentum.
“That should be the focus of our trip and that is what we are currently planning.”
“This is new territory”
McCaughey took over as Ulster CEO on an interim basis in March before agreeing earlier this month to stay until the end of 2025.
He acknowledges that careful planning needs to begin now to ensure that the historic implementation of the four treaty provinces can flourish in three years.
“It’s difficult because we’re entering new territory, but we have to sit down and think about what the game should look like,” he explained.
“When we have a contract team in three years, what will that look like, what do the players need and how do we get that done and how will the transition to a phased approach happen,” McCaughey continued.
“We are taking on the challenge of finding out what is needed and how we can achieve it.”
The former health company chief executive hopes the club’s current financial difficulties will not affect his desire to establish a women’s contract team in Ulster.
Ulster Rugby is running a deficit of between £2.5 million and £3 million, but McCaughey insists there is a plan to tackle the province’s financial problems.
“It will be a challenge; we know that rugby around the world is facing financial challenges.
“Our finances from the season just ended were made public in detail last week, so it is a challenge, but we have to find a way as this is a personal priority.”
“We have to concentrate on the current squad”
As plans get underway to sign an Ulster team at a later date to ensure a “pathway” is in place, McCaughey also stressed the importance of focusing on the current squad.
A combative Ulster team lost 29-22 to Munster in the inaugural Women’s Interpro tournament at Virgin Media Park in Cork last weekend.
They now host Connacht on Saturday in a match that will be broadcast live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.
And McCaughey believes that despite the defeat, there are positives to be taken from the game against Munster.
“We showed a lot of skill, played the better phases and patterns and scored some excellent tries,” he said.
“We conceded a few easy goals, which I’m sure the coaches are unhappy with. So there’s a lot to build on and that’s the key for us.”
“We need to evolve and grow because this group will lay the foundation for the future generation.”
