McWilliams Leaves Role As Women’s Head Coach

The IRFU has this afternoon confirmed that Greg McWilliams has vacated his role as head coach of the Ireland Women’s Rugby side after less than 18 months in charge.

With just three wins from his 12 games in charge, McWilliams leaves after a frustrating and disappointing TikTok Women’s Six Nations campaign, seeing them lose all five games and pick up a first wooden spoon since 2004.

McWilliams took over as head coach in January 2022, replacing Adam Grigg in the roles, two wins in his first Six Nations campaign, was followed with a result in their Test series with Japan last summer, but these would be the only results of victory in his tenure.

It was a second spell coaching the Irish women’s team for the 44 year old, he was an assistant to Philip Doyle when Ireland won the Grand Slam in 2013, while also being involved with the USA men’s team as an assistant coach prior to coming back last year.

Reports had circulated earlier this week that McWilliams would be leaving his position, following Ireland being comprehensively beaten in all five games of the 2023 Six Nations championship, with their sixth place finish leaving them in Tier 3 for the inaugural WXV competition later this year, the IRFU confirmed the news this afternoon.

John McKee will oversee operations in the side until a long-term replacement is found, while assistants Niamh Briggs and Denis Fogarty also remain as part of the coaching staff.

A statement from the IRFU read:

“The IRFU (Irish Rugby Football Union) can today confirm that Greg McWilliams has left his role as Head Coach of the Ireland Women’s XV by mutual consent and with immediate effect.

The remainder of the current management team will remain in situ and John McKee will oversee operations until a long-term replacement is finalised.

The IRFU would like to thank Greg for his efforts over the course of the last 18 months and wish him and his family well for the future. The IRFU will now begin the process of replacing him.”