News

DUBLIN – Cricket Ireland today confirmed that 48 cricketers have received a central contract for 2025-26.

Cricket Ireland first introduced full-time central contracts for men in 2009, with four players – Andre Botha, Trent Johnston, Kevin O’Brien and Alex Cusack – being the first to benefit from a gradually professionalising system. Part-time Women’s playing contracts were first offered in 2019, with Cricket Ireland becoming only the second sport in Ireland to offer full-time playing contracts for women in 2022.

The contract system has grown and evolved over time – with, for example, a key feature being the ability for Cricket Ireland to tailor contracts to suit the circumstances of the individual player. The system recognises that some players may still be studying (at secondary or tertiary level). As a result, a number of players are on ‘educational contracts’ that allow young cricketers to complete their studies alongside developing their cricket skills. Once studies are completed, many of these players then have the opportunity to move to full-time contracts.

NB: non-contracted players can be selected from time-to-time who will then be offered a ‘Casual’ contract for the reminder of the contract year.

Graeme West, Director of High Performance for Cricket Ireland, said:

“These central contracts recognise and reward our best talent across the men’s and women’s games. They allow the players the time and opportunity to access specialist coaching, as well as healthcare and lifestyle support services which create a more holistic approach to player development.

“Cricket Ireland’s investment in these contracts helps the growth of our sport through ensuring we are competitive and visible on the world stage – and also through creating role models and heroes to inspire a new generation to enter the sport.”

CENTRALLY-CONTRACTED PLAYERS

Ireland Men

Full-time contracts:

• Mark Adair (Lisburn/Northern Knights)
• Ross Adair (Lisburn/Northern Knights)
• Andrew Balbirnie (Pembroke/North West Warriors)
• Curtis Campher (Clontarf/Munster Reds)
• Gareth Delany (Leinster/Munster Reds)
• George Dockrell (Phoenix/Leinster Lightning)
• Graham Hume (Waringstown/North West Warriors)
• Matthew Humphreys (Lisburn/Northern Knights)
• Josh Little (Pembroke/Leinster Lightning)
• Andy McBrine (Donemana/North West Warriors)
• Barry McCarthy (Pembroke/Leinster Lightning)
• Neil Rock (Instonians/Northern Knights)
• Paul Stirling (Northern Knights)
• Harry Tector (Pembroke/Leinster Lightning)
• Lorcan Tucker (Pembroke/Leinster Lightning)
• Ben White (Phoenix/Munster Reds)
• Craig Young (North Down/North West Warriors)

Part-Year contracts:

• Stephen Doheny (Merrion/Munster Reds)
• Fionn Hand (Clontarf/Leinster Lightning)
• Gavin Hoey (Pembroke/Leinster Lightning)
• Matthew Foster (CSNI/Northern Knights)
• Liam McCarthy (Railway Union/Munster Reds)
• Morgan Topping (Waringstown/Northern Knights)

Ireland Women

Full-time contracts:

• Alana Dalzell (Bready/Dragons)
• Laura Delany (Leinster/Typhoons)
• Sarah Forbes (Pembroke/Typhoons)
• Arlene Kelly (Malahide/Dragons)
• Gaby Lewis (Phoenix/Scorchers)
• Sophie MacMahon (Leinster/Scorchers)
• Jane Maguire (The Hills/Typhoons)
• Cara Murray (Waringstown/Clontarf/Dragons)
• Leah Paul (Merrion/Typhoons)
• Orla Prendergast (Pembroke/Dragons)
• Freya Sargent (Clontarf/Typhoons)

Educational contracts:

• Ava Canning (Leinster/Typhoons)
• Christina Coulter Reilly (Clontarf/Scorchers)
• Georgina Dempsey (Phoenix/Typhoons)
• Amy Hunter (Instonians/Dragons)
• Louise Little (Pembroke/Scorchers)
• Joanna Loughran (Leinster/Typhoons)
• Aimee Maguire (The Hills/Scorchers)
• Rebecca Stokell (Merrion/Typhoons)
• Alice Tector (Phoenix/Scorchers)

 Casual contracts:

• Abbi Harrison (Waringstown/Dragons)
• Kia McCartney (Coleraine/Dragons)
• Jenni Jackson (Eglinton/Dragons)
• Lara McBride (The Hills/Scorchers)
• Ellie McGee (Rush/Typhoons)

CONTRACT TYPES

The contracts are categorised under a number of types:

• Full–time contracts – engage players on a full-time employment basis.

• Part–year contracts – engage players on a full-time employment basis for a stated part of the year.

• Educational contracts – designed to work around players who are at school full-time or studying at a tertiary level. Players on these contracts gain a significant living allowance to ensure they do not need to find a job during their education years and can instead concentrate on their cricket. All these players will be available full-time in the summer holidays.

• Casual contracts – offer players loss of earnings during the year, match fees, 12-month medical and healthcare insurance, sports science support (physiotherapy, strength and conditioning, psychology, performance analysis, nutrition and lifestyle management), specialist coaching support, and for ROI-based players, full access to the Sport Ireland Institute.