Djougang returns to Ireland's central contracts as four Six Nations debutants earn first deals

Linda Djougang has been welcomed back into Ireland Women’s centrally contracted group for the 2026/27 season, the IRFU announced, alongside four players who made their Test debuts at this year’s Women’s Six Nations Championship.

The 57-cap loosehead prop stepped away from the full-time programme last year to pursue interests outside of rugby, but retained national interest status and started all five of Ireland’s Guinness Women’s Six Nations fixtures in 2026. Her return brings experience back into a squad of 31 centrally contracted players.

Sophie Barrett, Kate Jordan, Aoibheann McGrath and Eilís Cahill — all forwards who broke into the Test side during this year’s Championship — have each earned their first national contracts. IRFU Head of Women’s Performance and Pathways Gillian McDarby described the quartet as players who “have shown huge potential”, adding that a full-time environment would “give them the opportunity to accelerate their development, while also increasing competition and depth within the group”.

The announcement comes three months after Scott Bemand’s side completed a record-breaking Women’s Six Nations campaign, which included a crowd of 31,294 at their first standalone fixture at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.

McDarby stressed that the contracted group is not yet finalised. The Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship — which features Ulster visiting Munster and Leinster hosting Connacht at Energia Park — offers further opportunities for players to press their case, with the IRFU leaving open the possibility of additional contracts being awarded on the back of provincial performances.

Looking ahead, Ireland face a busy autumn schedule. They will play four WXV Global Series fixtures in September and October, including matches 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 standalone Test outside the WXV window.

“We want to continue driving standards throughout the programme and create a competitive environment where players are consistently challenged to develop and perform,” McDarby said. “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.”