Connacht Women's coaching team confirmed

Connacht Rugby are delighted to announce the appointment of its new-look coaching team for the senior Women’s team ahead of the upcoming 2026 Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship.

The ticket will be led by Craig Hansberry who has been appointed Head Coach, replacing Emer O’Dowd following the completion of her two years in the role. Supporting Craig will be two coaches who need no introduction to the women’s game, in former Ireland internationals Larissa Muldoon and Fiona Hayes.

Craig Hansberry first joined Connacht Rugby in 2019 as a Regional Rugby Development Officer for Galway City. Originally from Killererin outside Tuam, Hansberry worked alongside Galway City Council to provide rugby coaching and sessions to primary and secondary schools and clubs across Galway City.

Since 2022 he has served as head coach of the Connacht U18s, leading them to an interpro title in 2024. He has played a key role in the development of some of Connacht’s brightest young stars, many of whom have since gone on to represent Connacht and Ireland at senior level.

Most recently he led the Ireland U18 Women’s squad for the 2026 U18 Women’s Six Nations Festival in England, helping the team to three wins from their four fixtures.

This is not the first time Hansberry has been involved in the senior Connacht Women setup, having previously held the role of Forwards Coach in the squad.

Before moving to coaching, Larissa Muldoon enjoyed a stellar playing career, earning 48 international caps and winning two Six Nations titles including a Grand Slam in 2013. It was 10 years later in 2023 she moved into full-time coaching, becoming the Connacht representative in the IRFU’s Women’s National Talent Squad (WNTS) pathway staff, working to help develop Connacht’s elite young talent.

Like Hansberry, she too has served as Head Coach of the Ireland U18 Women, and was also previously Backs Coach at U20 level. She was also part of the senior coaching ticket that helped guide Ireland to WXV3 success in Dubai in 2023, and just last year worked as an Attack & Sckills Coach at the World Cup in England.

Her teammate during her playing days, Fiona Hayes, will also be joining the coaching team. At playing level she earned 24 international caps and was also a member of the team that won two Six Nations titles in three years.

She garnered a wealth of head coaching experience following the end of her playing career, taking on the role at UL Bohs - with whom she guided to back-to-back Energia All-Ireland League titles – and Munster Rugby for the 2024 Interprovincial Championships.

Most recently she led Old Belvedere to a 4^th place finish in the 2025/26 Women’s AIL.

Craig Hansberry says:

“I am incredibly proud and honoured to be given the opportunity to lead the Connacht senior women’s squad. Having spent the last few years working closely with out U18s and the provincial talent pathway, I know firsthand the huge talent, ambition and potential that exists within the province.

I’m also delighted to be working alongside Larissa and Fiona, who will bring a massive amount of experience and knowledge to the team. We are all aligned in our vision for where we want to take the squad, and we can’t wait to get the wider squad together next month, to build a culture and level of performance that represents the best of Connacht in the upcoming interpros.“

Further announcements on the extended training squad will follow in due course.

CONNACHT RUGBY WOMEN’S MANAGEMENT TEAM 2026

Craig Hansberry – Head Coach
Larissa Muldoon – Attack Coach
Fiona Hayes – Defence Coach
Cathal Evans – Backs Coach, Athletic Development Support
Natalie Fox – Team Manager
Adrian Pilkington – Lead Athletic Development Coach
Amy O’Mahoney – Lead Physio
Evan Gannon – Lead Analyst

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