£3million Funding Initiative to Develop Players and Coaches for British and Irish Lions Women’s Tour 2027

A new £3million funding initiative has been announced to help develop more players and coaches from across the British Isles ahead of the first British and Irish Lions Women’s tour in 2027. The Lions are set to play three Tests against world champions New Zealand during September 2027, with warm-up fixtures against provincial sides also on the cards.

One of the main challenges facing the historic tour is England’s dominance over the other unions, particularly evident in the Red Roses’ 46-0 victory over Scotland in the Six Nations, extending their winning streak to 27 matches. To address this issue, the Lions Women’s team founding partner Royal London has provided the ‘Levelling the Playing Field’ pathways funding grant, which will be tailored to each union’s specific needs.

The Irish Rugby Football Union plans to use the funding to host additional women’s under-18 and under-20 camps and training matches, as well as launching a ‘Coach Accelerator Scholarship Program’ and collaborating with universities to identify future talent. Meanwhile, the Welsh Rugby Union will bolster its women’s pathway coaching staff with five new members and invest in talent identification programs.

Scottish Rugby is set to recruit two ‘Performance Pipeline’ coaches and deliver additional youth camps and training matches, while the Rugby Football Union will focus on further developing England’s player development groups to enhance skill development.

Lions chief executive Ben Calveley expressed his excitement about the initiative, stating that supporting the growth of the women’s game is a key priority for the British and Irish Lions and their constituent unions. The ‘Levelling the Playing Field’ grant is expected to have a positive impact on women’s rugby across the British Isles, ultimately aiming to elevate the playing standards and give the Lions Women’s squad the best chance of success in their upcoming tour to New Zealand.