Kevin Potts, chief of the IRFU, has publicly apologized to Ireland’s women’s team for their failures.
This comes as Irish Rugby’s governing body agrees to implement all the 30 recommendations of an independent panel that was formed following a review into why the women’s team failed to qualify for the 2021 World Cup.
These include 1m Euro of additional annual funding for women’s rugby in Ireland, and the creation a full-time head of women’s performance and pathways’ position.
The recommendations were welcomed by players representatives. In addition, the IRFU has appointed a full time team manager to manage team logistics.
Both sides were at odds in the last months of 2021, after defeats to Spain and Scotland ended their World Cup hopes. However, both sides have expressed hope that the review will lead to a fresh start for Irish women’s rugby.
Potts, the chief of the IRFU, accepted the position in January and apologized to women’s players for not living up to their promise to “build success together”.
“We are determined to put that right, and we consider the recommendations of the independent review to be a solid foundation from which to revive the long-term development for women’s rugby here in Ireland.
“We fully accept the recommendations of the independent review. We have already taken many of the recommendations into consideration and some are already in place.
The independent review panel made the following recommendations:
- Initiation of a Head of Women’s Performance and Pathways Role.
- Re-evaluation of the women’s performance coach for 15-a-side and the performance analyst roles to full-time.
- Provision of a dedicated 15-a-side nutritionist for women.
- Former captain Niamh Briggs is currently the assistant coach. This will be a full-time position.
- Instilling a culture of consultation with and engagement with players.
A large number of former and current players wrote to the Irish Government in December, expressing their dismay at the loss of “all trust” and “confidence” in the IRFU. This was rebuffed by the governing body.
Greg McWilliams took over as Adam Griggs’ head coach. Anthony Eddy, who was the center of the row for insisting that the 15-a side game had been played in the 7s programme, has taken over as head coach. stepped downHis position as director of rugby.
Potts confirmed that the director of women’s rugby, with her announcement of the new role as head of performance pathways, was “gone.”
Reps of players welcome suggestions
Claire Molloy and Ciara Griffin, former captains, signed a joint statement in support of the players. Cliodhna Molloy, hooker and Lindsay Peat, recently retired props.
Potts was praised for his leadership and “proactive, inclusive” approach to discussions. They also reiterated that Friday’s announcement was only the beginning of a “new era” for women’s soccer in Ireland.
Moloney was the first player to publicly condemn Eddy’s comments from last year. He compared them to “slurry spreading”
The Wasps hooker is a surprise omissionThe 38-player Irish Six Nations panel was selected by Potts, who “absolutely assured” that the decision was based on form.
A structural review is ongoing to examine the implementation of the IRFU’s 2018-2023 Women in Rugby Action Plan.
Many of the major targets in the plan were not achieved, including qualification for the 2020 Olympics, a top-six World Cup place, and a Six Nations championship.