Griggs Appointed Ireland Women’s Head Coach

Adam Griggs 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 title, and where he also worked as assistant coach with the Leinster Under-19s. 

Working with Leinster since 2009 as Community Rugby Officer, Adam also has club coaching experience, guiding Old Wesley to the Ulster Bank League Division 1B 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 Division 1A title with Lansdowne in 2015 and has also lined out at scrum half for Leinster ‘A’. 

Commenting on the appointment, IRFU Performance Director David Nucifora said: “We received a huge response and we are delighted to announce Adam as head coach for the forthcoming Women’s Six Nations Championship.
 
“Adam has developed into an outstanding coach since arriving in Ireland in 2009 and has coached at schools, club and interprovincial 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 Women’s Six Nations.”
 
New Zealander Griggs admitted: “I’m delighted to be named as Ireland Women’s head coach and having coached during the Interpros 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.