The IRFU are pleased to announce Adam Griggs as Head Coach of the Ireland Women’s XV side for the 2018 Women’s Six Nations.

Adam joins the national set-up from Leinster Rugby, where he has held the role of Leinster Women’s Head Coach since 2016, guiding the province to the 2016 Interprovincial Championship, and where he also worked as Assistant Coach with the Leinster U19s.

Working with Leinster since 2009 as Community Rugby Officer, Adam has AIL coaching experience, guiding Old Wesley to the Ulster Bank League Division 2B Play-Offs as a player-coach last season.

As a player, he came though the Canterbury Crusaders Academy before moving to Ireland. He won the Ulster Bank League with Lansdowne FC in 2015 and has also lined out for Leinster A.

Speaking on the appointment, IRFU High Performance Director David Nuciforasaid;

“We received a huge response and we are delighted to announce Adam as Head Coach for the forthcoming Six Nations.

Adam has developed into an outstanding coach since arriving in Ireland in 2009 and has coached at schools, club and inter-provincial level. 

He has good knowledge of the Women’s game in Ireland having brought success to the Leinster Women over the past season.

Working with staff from the Ireland Women’s programme, Adam will join the squad this weekend, as they begin their preparations for the 2018 Women’s Six Nations”.

Speaking on his appointment as Ireland Women’s Head Coach, Griggs said;

“I’m delighted to be named as Ireland Women’s Head Coach and having coached during the inter-pros I know the huge amount of talent there is in Ireland. 

It’s a new challenge for me, but it’s an exciting one. This is a fresh start for all of us within the squad and I know the players are highly motivated to do well.

I look forward to getting things underway as we build towards next year’s Women’s Six Nations”. 

As previously outlined, this position will be reviewed post Six Nations, in-line with the IRFU’s ongoing strategic review of the women’s game in Ireland.