The buzz from Munster Rugby’s win over South Africa at a packed Pairc Uí Chaoimh has had a follow-through impact for Cork with news that the Irish Women’s team will play both of their games in the TikTok Women’s Six Nations at Musgrave Park in Cork.
Ireland open their 2023 Championship against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, 25th March, before welcoming France to Cork in Round 2 on Saturday, 1st April. After a rest weekend, Ireland will be on the road again, going head-to-head with Italy in Parma on Saturday, 15th April.
World Cup finalists England will visit Musgrave Park in Round 4 on Saturday, 22nd April, and the Championship will conclude with a trip to Edinburgh to take on Scotland at the DAM Health Stadium on Saturday, 29th April.
All the matches will have afternoon kick-offs apart from the final one which will be under lights at 7-30 PM. Each of the games will be televised live and free to air under the existing broadcast contract dividing all Six Nations games between RTÉ and Virgin Media.
Both of Ireland’s home games in the U20 Six Nations will also be played at Musgrave Park in 2023, on Friday 10th February against France and on Sunday, March 19th against England.
“We received huge home support during last year’s Six Nations and we’re excited to make Cork our home base for the 2023 Championship,” said Ireland Head Coach Greg McWilliams. “We enjoyed a good day out against Italy last year, with the people of Cork coming out to support the team and we will be hoping for more of the same in 2023, as two of the best teams in women’s rugby come to visit.”
There will be disappointment in other parts of the country with Ulster Rugby, in particular, having made a huge effort behind the game hosted against Scotland at the Kingspan Stadium this year but potential clashes with Heineken Cup and URC games have meant that the 2023 schedule will be Cork only.
From 2024 there will also be pressure to use the by then newly developed Racecourse Ground in Connacht as a venue for the Women’s side.
