Lindsay Peat suggests that Dannah O'Brien might require a shift to a Premiership team to advance her skills and career growth.
In the world of women's rugby, the future of Ireland's first-choice out-half, Dannah O'Brien, is a topic of much discussion. After a heartbreaking 18-13 quarterfinal defeat to France in the 2025 Rugby World Cup, questions about her development and opportunities for growth have arisen.
O'Brien, who has amassed an impressive 30 Test caps since her debut in 2022 at the age of 18, currently plays her club rugby at Exeter Chiefs. However, former Ireland international Lindsay Peat believes that O'Brien might need to consider a move to the Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) to further develop her skills, especially if the IRFU does not change its vision for the All-Ireland League.
Peat, who has been a vocal advocate for O'Brien's development, suggests that the young player needs more opportunities to play top-quality club games and to make decisions under pressure when her kicking game and territory game are taken away from her. This, she believes, would better prepare O'Brien for the high-stakes environment of international rugby.
Seven members of Ireland's World Cup squad are currently based in the PWR, including Dorothy Wall, who missed the World Cup due to injury. The dominance of Irish sides in the Celtic Challenge competition, which has faced criticism for the high scores against Welsh and Scottish opponents, further supports Peat's argument.
Scott Bemand, as coach, is tasked with facilitating the growth of O'Brien and the entire team, particularly in decision-making. Bemand needs to consider player placement, coaching staff, and Test games over the next four years to improve team decisions collectively and individually.
Meanwhile, Holly Aitchison and Alex Tessier, who are described as having high IQ and being former basketball players, are mentioned as impressive secondary 10s in the context of O'Brien's development. Aoife Wafer, the most recent Irish player to confirm a move to Harlequins after the World Cup, is another player whose club move could provide valuable insights for O'Brien.
As the conversation around O'Brien's future continues, fans and experts alike eagerly await the developments that will shape her career in the coming years. The RTE Rugby podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and various other podcast platforms, is a valuable resource for staying updated on the latest news and discussions about O'Brien and the Irish rugby team.
In other women's rugby news, New Zealand and Canada will face each other in the Women's Rugby World Cup semi-finals on Friday at 6.30pm, which can be watched on RTE2 and RTE Player.
Stay tuned for more updates on Dannah O'Brien and the Irish rugby team.
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