Next Friday, March 8th will be a red letter day for the ‘Girls in Green’ that make up the Irish women’s rugby team.  They will take on France in the RBS Six Nations with a first triple crown already secured and a possible Grand Slam looming on the horizon.
The match takes place at Ashbourne Rugby Club in County Meath and a record crowd for a home international is expected.
The game takes place the evening before the men’s team is at the Aviva Stadium against the same opponents and in a first for women’s sport, the women’s match is so far drawing as much interest across print, online and broadcast media.
Since 2009 there has been a substantial investment in the women’s game with a back room staff of 11 preparing the team for next weekend.
It is still not at or even near the same level as for the men’s team but the performances this season, beating England for the first time at home three weeks ago and ending their 40 match unbeaten streak; followed by winning the triple crown in Edinburgh one week later have raised the profile of a sport that is certain to provide plenty of high days in the coming years.
Friday will be followed by a potential Grand Slam decider in Italy the following weekend, a first appearance at the Women’s Sevens World Cup Finals in Moscow over the Summer and a trip to France for the Women’s Rugby World Cup for the 15’s in Summer 2014.
Qualification for this tournament was confirmed following the win over Scotland, a victory which delighted coach Philip Doyle.
“To win the Triple Crown is the stuff of dreams and the players deserve it for all the hard work they have put in.”
The team still does not carry a sponsor on the front of the team jersey.  The IRFU have turned down a number of speculative enquiries at too low a value and the raised profile of the sport may well see that approach pay off.
Scotland and England carry RBS and O2 respectively on their shirst, mirroring deals for the men’s team but Ireland has chosen to separate the two sides, as it has with the U20 side in the men’s game that is sponsored by PwC.
The World Cup, just like the men’s game does not permit front of shirt sponsorship , and neither will the Olympic Games where the women’s team is likely to qualify Ireland’s first ever field sports team to compete in Rio 2016.
The other benefits for a sponsor would be significant though in a sport, and with a team that has greater potential to compete at the very top flight than any other from this Island.
Tickets for Friday will be available on the gate priced €10 for adults, €5 for children, students and seniors and €20 for a car load of four.