Jemima Adams Verling’s Ireland debut was more than a personal milestone. It was a powerful sign that the women’s rugby pathway is beginning to connect community clubs, provincial development and international opportunity in a meaningful way.
The 20-year-old Roscommon native started at blindside flanker against the USA during Ireland’s autumn international window, earning her first senior cap after a rapid rise through Connacht and the IRFU’s structured development programmes.
Ireland women’s rugby pathway delivers another breakthrough
Adams Verling’s route to the Ireland squad began at Creggs RFC, where she developed alongside players including Róisín Maher and Sarah Purcell. Her early progress was shaped by family support, committed coaches and the welcoming environment of a club positioned on the Galway-Roscommon border.
She won two Connacht Under-18 league titles with Creggs before helping the club complete a league and cup double in 2025. That season also brought individual recognition, with Adams Verling named Connacht Women’s Club Player of the Year.
Her development continued through the provincial system. She represented Ireland Under-18s in 2024, progressed to the Under-20s the following year and later impressed at number eight for the Ireland Under-21s.
From Creggs to the international stage
The back rower’s progress has coincided with the expansion of opportunities for young women in Irish rugby. The IRFU’s Women’s National Talent Squad, established in 2022, supports players aged between 16 and 23 who have the potential to reach national squads.
Adams Verling was also part of the Clovers in the Celtic Challenge and played a key role as Ireland’s Under-21 side recorded three wins in the inaugural Under-21 Six Nations Series. Those experiences helped prepare her for the intensity and demands of senior rugby.
She is now part of the IRFU Women’s High Performance Programme’s centrally contracted forwards group for the 2026/27 season, alongside fellow emerging talent Sophie Barrett.
Connacht’s growing influence on Ireland rugby
Adams Verling’s selection reflects the growing strength of Connacht’s women’s rugby system. Coaches including Dave Purcell, Craig Hansberry, Matt Gill, Larissa Muldoon, Niamh Briggs and Denis Fogarty have all played roles in her development at different stages.
Her breakthrough also follows international appearances for other Connacht products, including Ailish Quinn and Creggs forward Ivana Kiripati. Connacht supplied a strong contingent to Ireland’s recent underage groups too, highlighting the depth now emerging across the province.
That progress matters beyond one player. It shows how local clubs, schools, provincial programmes and national structures can combine to create a clearer route for girls who want to pursue high-performance rugby.
A debut built on community support
Although Ireland were beaten by the USA in a high-scoring contest, Adams Verling’s performance represented the beginning of what head coach Scott Bemand hopes will be a long international career.
Bemand acknowledged that the result was not the ideal introduction for a new international, but said her debut was the start of a “long piece” and expressed the hope that she would go on to win many more caps.
Adams Verling has since spoken about the support she received from Creggs and her current club, Galwegians. For a player from a small community club, that backing underlines the special connection between grassroots rugby and the national team.
Why the pathway matters for girls’ rugby
The IRFU’s women’s strategy is focused on strengthening provincial pathways for players aged 16 to 23, while also developing more female coaches and referees. The wider ambition includes increasing the number of clubs with a complete female pathway from mini rugby through to adult teams.
Adams Verling is one of the first players to experience the full sequence of opportunities now available: Connacht underage rugby, the National Talent Squad, the Celtic Challenge, Ireland’s underage teams and the senior High Performance Programme.
With 64 players currently working with provincial talent coaches, the system is designed to identify promising players earlier and give them consistent access to high-performance support.
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What comes next for Adams Verling?
The next challenge will be turning a memorable first appearance into regular involvement at international level. Her versatility across the back row, experience in structured development environments and strong provincial grounding give her a solid platform.
For Connacht, Creggs and the wider Irish rugby community, her debut offers encouragement that investment in girls’ rugby is creating genuine opportunities. The focus now shifts to her next Ireland selection and the continued progress of the players following behind her.
Article/Image Courtesy: Irish Rugby
