UL-Bohemian confirm departure of Limerick rugby star Fiona Hayes as head coach

UL Bohemian RFC have confirmed the departure of Fiona Hayes as head coach of their senior women’s team.
The Limerick native served two years in the role.
Hayes joined the Annacotty club in June 2023 and guided the Red Robins to back-to-back Energia All-Ireland League titles and also won the Energia WAIL Cup in 2024.
“After two years with our senior women’s team Fiona Hayes’s tenure as UL Bohemian RFC head coach has come to an end. We as a club would sincerely like to thank Fiona and for her service, excellence and commitment to our senior women’s squad during what was a remarkable period of success,” outlined a statement from the club this weekend.

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“UL Bohemians RFC have been very fortunate to have Fiona at the helm in recent years and her connection to the club and her experience at all levels in the game clearly resonated with the squad. This created an atmosphere conducive to growth, learning and positivity which essentially proved to be a recipe for top level success,” said the club statement.
From Limerick city, Hayes began her rugby career with UL Bohemian while studying a masters at the University of Limerick.
As an international player she was part of the historic Ireland side that won the Grand Slam in 2013.

Hayes won nine All-Ireland league medals as a player for UL Bohemian, represented Ireland on 15 occasions and wore the red of Munster for 11 years amassing over 50 caps. 

Before committing to rugby, Hayes was an accomplished soccer player - captaining UL to winning the Ireland Intervarsities title in 2005 and she also won the FAI Cup with Cork side Douglas Hall in 2013.
Since her retirement, Hayes has made her mark in coaching with Ballincollig and UL Bohemian at club level and at varying roles all the way up to senior level with Munster.
“The last two years have been the most exciting times in my coaching career to date. I thought nothing could eclipse playing rugby, but I was wrong. Coaching at UL Bohs gave me my love back for the game,” said Hayes on her departure from the Limerick club.
“The players, coaches and people in this club have shown me that you can have fun and still play some cracking rugby. As I head to Dublin on a new journey, I’ll remember the words the great John Keane said to me ‘once a Robin, always a Robin’ and I’ll hold that with me," she said.

"All at UL Bohemian RFC would like to thank Fiona for her passion and dedication to the Red Robins and we wish her the very best for the next chapter of what will undoubtedly be a successful future and we look forward to welcoming her back to UL Bohs with open arms in the future," concluded the club statement.