Category Sports News

After the second tier’s full professional status, women’s Super League 2 players are now eligible for membership in the Professional Footballers’ Association.

The PFA, which represents the players’ union, provides access to services like support and representation for disputes involving contracts, rights, and conditions.

All 12 clubs are now operating on a full-time professional level after switching from the Women’s Championship to the WSL2 for the 2025-26 season.

Only two professional women’s leagues exist in England.

“Recognition and a seat at the table when decisions are being made are prerequisites for any union to effectively represent its members.”

The need for comprehensive and formalized union representation for the WSL and WSL2 was highlighted by an independent review into women’s football in 2023, which was led by former England midfielder Karen Carney.

According to Molango, Karen Carney’s review correctly argued that the PFA’s services to women’s game players needed to be properly funded by the organization in which they compete.

After the second tier’s full professional status, women’s Super League 2 players are now eligible for membership in the Professional Footballers’ Association.

The PFA, which represents the players’ union, provides access to services like support and representation for disputes involving contracts, rights, and conditions.

All 12 clubs are now operating on a full-time professional level after switching from the Women’s Championship to the WSL2 for the 2025-26 season.

Only two professional women’s leagues exist in England.

“Recognition and a seat at the table when decisions are being made are prerequisites for any union to effectively represent its members.”

The need for comprehensive and formalized union representation for the WSL and WSL2 was highlighted by an independent review into women’s football in 2023, which was led by former England midfielder Karen Carney.

According to Molango, Karen Carney’s review correctly argued that the PFA’s services to women’s game players needed to be properly funded by the organization in which they compete.

Women’s Super League 2 players are now eligible for Professional Footballers’ Association membership after the second tier became fully professional.

The PFA is the players’ union and grants access to services including support and representation for issues relating to contracts, rights and conditions.

After rebranding from the Women’s Championship to the WSL2 for the 2025-26 season, all 12 clubs are running on a full-time professional basis.

England is the only country with two professional women’s leagues.

“For any union to represent its members effectively it needs recognition and a seat at the table when decisions are being made.”

An independent review into women’s football in 2023 – commissioned by the government and chaired by former England midfielder Karen Carney – highlighted the need for comprehensive and formalised union representation for the WSL and WSL2.

Molango said: “Karen Carney’s review rightly pointed out that the services provided by the PFA to players in the women’s game needed to be properly funded by the organisers of the competitions they play in.

Women’s Super League 2 players are now eligible for Professional Footballers’ Association membership after the second tier became fully professional.

The PFA is the players’ union and grants access to services including support and representation for issues relating to contracts, rights and conditions.

After rebranding from the Women’s Championship to the WSL2 for the 2025-26 season, all 12 clubs are running on a full-time professional basis.

England is the only country with two professional women’s leagues.

“For any union to represent its members effectively it needs recognition and a seat at the table when decisions are being made.”

An independent review into women’s football in 2023 – commissioned by the government and chaired by former England midfielder Karen Carney – highlighted the need for comprehensive and formalised union representation for the WSL and WSL2.

Molango said: “Karen Carney’s review rightly pointed out that the services provided by the PFA to players in the women’s game needed to be properly funded by the organisers of the competitions they play in.

Caelan Doris will start on the bench while returning captain Jack Crowley will play at fly-half for Ireland in their eagerly anticipated Chicago rematch against New Zealand.

Jack Conan will start at number eight while Dan Sheehan, who replaced Doris in the Six Nations victory over Wales earlier this year, will lead Ireland for the second time.

Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong, who both started tight-head prop in Ireland’s historic victory over the All Blacks at Soldier Field in 2016, join Sheehan and Andrew Porter in the front row.

Paddy McCarthy, a Leinster prop, has been chosen to start for the Tests.

With Jamie Osborne and Tommy O’Brien selected at full-back and right-wing, Hugo Keenan and Mack Hansen’s injuries have forced head coach Andy Farrell to change up his back three.

With Ryan Baird and Josh van der Flier joining Conan in the back row, Joe McCarthy’s foot injury places James Ryan in the second row alongside Tadhg Beirne.

Bundee Aki, who has been dealing with a hip injury, will start on the bench alongside Garry Ringrose in midfield. In Ireland’s historic 2016 victory over the All Blacks, Ringrose and Van der Flier were absentee from the starting lineup.

“It’s a real honor to be back in Chicago to prepare for a significant game against New Zealand. There are going to be thousands of Irish supporters cheering us on, which will inspire the team, according to Farrell, who has been extremely well-liked by the local community.

“We are appreciating the historic significance of this game, and Paddy McCarthy, who is scheduled to make his international debut this weekend, is very excited.”

Crowley’s return to the 10 jersey is still significant despite its overbearing nature. The Munster man was Ireland’s first-choice scorer in the 2024 Six Nations title defense, but Sam Prendergast took his place during the autumn tests last year.

Crowley hasn’t lost Crowley in the competition, but he has already had a strong season and was key in Munster’s impressive win over Leinster in the United Rugby Championship.

After having shoulder surgery in May that prevented him from joining the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia, Doris has been sidelined since then. Farrell has since decided against risking the 27-year-old from the beginning.

This signifies that Sheehan’s career will take on a new significance on Saturday. The 27-year-old hooker has been one of Ireland’s top players in recent years, and he has now taken over the Lions and his country in the recent season after leading the tourists past Western Force.

Rory Best, a hooker, also assisted Ireland in the 2016 victory.

McCloskey, Best’s former Ulster teammate, will also have a big day. The 33-year-old won both games over the summer in Georgia and Portugal, but he has struggled to find runs-outs with the frontline team in recent years.

Jack Crowley has been named at fly-half in Ireland’s much-anticipated Chicago rematch against New Zealand, while returning captain Caelan Doris will start on the bench.

With Doris among the replacements, Jack Conan starts at number eight while Dan Sheehan will skipper Ireland for the second time, having taken on the role in the Six Nations win over Wales earlier this year.

Sheehan is joined in the front row by Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong, who also started at tight-head prop in Ireland’s historic win over the All Blacks at Soldier Field in 2016.

Leinster prop Paddy McCarthy is poised to make his Test debut after being named on the bench.

Injuries to Hugo Keenan and Mack Hansen have forced head coach Andy Farrell to shake up his back three, with Jamie Osborne and Tommy O’Brien selected at full-back and right wing.

Joe McCarthy’s foot injury means James Ryan starts in the second row alongside Tadhg Beirne, with Ryan Baird and Josh van der Flier alongside Conan in the back row.

Stuart McCloskey will start alongside Garry Ringrose in midfield with Bundee Aki, who has been struggling with a hip injury, named on the bench. Ringrose and Van der Flier featured off the bench in Ireland’s historic Chicago win over the All Blacks in 2016.

“It is a real privilege to be back here in Chicago ahead of a huge game against New Zealand. We’ve been received brilliantly by the local community and there are going to be thousands of Irish supporters cheering us on which is something that will inspire the team,” said Farrell.

“The historic nature of this game is something we are embracing and there’s great excitement in the squad, not least for Paddy McCarthy who is set to make his international debut this weekend.

Ireland: J Osborne; T O’Brien, G Ringrose, S McCloskey, J Lowe; J Crowley, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, D Sheehan (capt), T Furlong, J Ryan, T Beirne, R Baird, J van der Flier, J Conan.

Crowley’s return to the 10 jersey is not overly surprising, but still significant. The Munster man was Ireland’s first-choice out-half during their 2024 Six Nations title win, but lost his place to Sam Prendergast during last year’s autumn Tests.

However, Crowley has started the season strongly and his starring role in Munster’s comprehensive United Rugby Championship win over Leinster has helped him edge out Prendergast.

Doris has been sidelined since May after undergoing shoulder surgery that ruled him out of the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia, and while he has returned to training, Farrell has opted not to risk the 27-year-old from the start.

It means that Saturday will be another significant day in the career of Sheehan. The 27-year-old hooker has been one of Ireland’s outstanding players in recent years, while his emerging leadership status has seen him captain his country and the Lions this year, having led the tourists to victory over Western Force.

Ireland were also captained from hooker – Rory Best – in the 2016 win.

It will be a big day for Best’s former Ulster team-mate McCloskey, too. The 33-year-old started both summer wins over Georgia and Portugal, but has found run-outs with the frontline team hard to come by in the past couple of years.