Rugby clubs across the country can now apply for the 2026 Lions Championing Women and Girls’ Rugby Award, with sports ireland readers likely to see this as a timely boost for grassroots women’s sport. The award, backed by Royal London as a founding partner of the British & Irish Lions Women’s team, will recognise clubs that are making a real difference for women and girls in their local rugby communities.
One club from each of the four Lions unions will receive a trophy and a £10,000 grant to strengthen its female rugby programme. For Irish clubs, that puts a fresh spotlight on community development at a time when ireland rugby, youth pathways and participation in ireland women sports continue to grow.
What the Lions women and girls rugby award means for Irish clubs
The award is aimed at grassroots clubs that can show clear progress in supporting women’s rugby on and off the pitch. Organisers are looking beyond simple participation numbers. The strongest applications are expected to show how a club has improved access, visibility and long-term opportunities.
- Community outreach to bring in new players
- Better access to training and playing opportunities
- Equality across the club structure
- Recognition of women’s and girls’ achievements
- Development of players, coaches and volunteers
- Stronger leadership pathways for women
There is solid recent Irish interest in the scheme. More than 120 clubs applied last year, with Buccaneers RFC named among the winners in the previous cycle and Cooke RFC taking the Ireland award in 2024. That track record should encourage more county and provincial clubs to put forward their work this summer.
Applications for the 2026 award are open now and will close on Monday, July 20, 2026. For clubs involved in ireland sports updates at local level, this is a practical chance to secure funding and national recognition. In the wider sports ireland picture, it is also another sign that investment in women’s rugby is moving from words to action. The next step for clubs is simple: get an application in before the deadline and show how their programme is building the future of the game.
