The Irish Women’s Rugby team handed back the Six Nations Trophy they won as part of this year’s Grand Slam yesterday but they can look back with pride on a great year and look forward to one of excitement in the coming months.
Later today there will be a Conference at the Millennium Stadium on Growing the Women’s Game featuring representatives from each of the home nations and representatives of the IRB led by Susan Carty, the Irish Head of the Women’s game at the Board.
Sport for Business will carry a report from the Conference on Friday morning.
Fiona Coghlan and Nora Stapleton are pictured above returning the trophy in Dublin.
During the near nine months it has been on the island it is estimated to have been photographed 5,000 times and had 50 babies sit in it, the same number as the hours spent polishing it on a 15,000 mile tour of around 200 clubs, colleges and events.
The team will return to defend the title in parallel with the men’s Six Nations next year and a highlight will be their playing England at Twickenham Stadium on the evening of the Men’s international. Fans will be allowed to attend for free, and those who have been there for the early game encouraged to stay on. The game will take place on February 22nd.
England play at least one of their Six Nations matches at Twickenham when the schedule permits and it is a great way to showcase the sport to an audience that would not otherwise perhaps take the time to travel to smaller grounds.
Victory with a Grand Slam was only the third time in history that an Irish side has managed such a feat. It would perhaps be a fitting recognition to echo the English idea of playing at the National Stadium.
The return fixture of the match against Italy which secured the Grand Slam in March takes place on Saturday, March 8th. The Men’s game is an early kick off at the Aviva Stadium at 2.30pm. Ashbourne RFC has served as a wonderful home to the Women’s team but wouldn’t it be an idea to celebrate a remarkable achievement in what is the national home of the whole sport…
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