Ireland's women are on their way to the Six Nations wooden spoon, in stark contrast to their masculine side and given their players' problems, it's not hard to see why. Photo: Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images.
The Irish Rugby Football Union has been compared to an «old boys' club». following a damning investigation by Telegraph Sport, an alarming amount of sexism has been uncovered against its women's team.
There has been increased concern that the IRFU is not seriously supporting its women's national team for the time when its men's team ranks first place in the world and is among the favorites to win the men's world championship this year.
Andy Farrell's players capped off a fabulous Six Nations campaign last month by winning a Grand Slam in Dublin, and the Irish Under 20s repeated the feat the next day.
England, Wales and Scotland professionalized their women's teams, but the same cannot be said for Ireland, which is the only six-nation women's team not to qualify for last year's World Cup. Cup.
Greg McWilliams' the sides are on track to pick up the wooden spoon after a 53-3 home loss to France reduced to 14 players by the hour earlier this month following the team's 31-5 first-round loss to Wales in Cardiff. .
France had nine tries against Ireland despite playing 14 women for 59 minutes. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images
Following the wide-ranging investigation, it can now be reported that:
- At the President's Dinner in Dublin last month, a prominent Irish rugby figure said: «Who cares about women's rugby?» during a speech by IRFU President John Robinson when he mentioned the union's successes in the women's game
- There were «terrible stories»; around team selection: Players skipped emails or even reported they were kicked out of the game.
- Players were denied protein supplements ahead of the team's historic tour to Japan last November
- The players were not properly consulted about the IRFU's decision to change the color of the women's team shorts from white to navy blue due to period issues
- IRFU refused to consider the option of «hybrid contracts». — this was a specific request from the players — the union favored a full-time or nothing position instead
John Cronin, current director of rugby in Dublin. Railway union RFC, one of Ireland's most successful and progressive rugby clubs, says the union has a deep-seated problem when it comes to women's rugby because of its «archaic» form. management and structure.
«The culture of old boys pervades IRFU.» Cronin said. «Women's rugby is here, but they don't know how to take care of it because management hasn't evolved.»
"In the few cases where IRFU has tried to include women, they seem to have confused the difference between diversity and inclusion. Their solution is often to co-opt women who have no role in women's rugby into positions, but that's diversity, not inclusion.
"Inclusion including those who represent women's rugby .
According to the IRFU statement, such claims are «objectively untrue.» and that he invests "millions" in the development of the women's game, both at the professional and societal levels.
The statement added: “We are seeing a steady increase in the participation of women and girls, which is indicative of the work being done across the country to get more women into the game. IRFU has a dedicated women's committee and a women's advisory group tasked with overseeing the rise in women's and girls' participation in the game.
< p>The union also noted that it recently appointed a Head of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, as well as a Special Head of Women's Work and Development Pathways, and is recruiting many more full-time staff to encourage and develop female players. By the end of this year, she also plans to have 40 percent female representation on her committee.
But in the IRFU subcommittee on women's rugby, which is not even listed on the Irish rugby website, members are currently appointed, not elected. Notably, there is no representative from any of the 10 clubs in the All Ireland Women's League, Ireland's top women's division and the equivalent Premier 15 club. «I've been with them in committee rooms and heard the language some of them use.» adds Cronin. "This is awful"
Presidents' Last month, at a dinner attended by about 200 people at the Bective RFC in Dublin, Robinson gave a speech during which he mentioned the union's progress with the women's team since the introduction of full-time contracts last year.
When Robinson mentioned the women's game, a prominent figure in the Irish game said, «Who cares about women's rugby?» Robinson was not within earshot of the comment.
'I doubt Johnny Sexton would have been denied protein if he wanted it'
One of the players whose identity Telegraph Sport chose not to reveal was one of the women who asked for protein additives. in the off-season leading up to the women of Ireland historic tour of Japan last fall. It was the first time the team went on an overseas tour.
“We had a big off-season training block, four gym sessions a week, [classes] running, and it was all remote learning.” She said. "I asked the nutritionist for some off-season protein. I was told 'no' because it was against the policy to supply it outside the competition window. I doubt Johnny Sexton would have been denied protein if he wanted to.”
IRFU said it could not comment on the protein supplement situation without knowing the player's name. He added that since February of this year, for the first time for the team, the women's team has been supported by a full-time nutritionist.
"There are billions of stupid cases like this, and they keep piling up and piling up, and it just explodes" said Cronin, who has helped develop several notable Irish internationals. Among them is Exeter Chiefs prostitute Kliodna Moloney, who was not selected after publicly criticizing the now departed IRFU director of women's rugby and sevens, Anthony Eddy, in November 2021.
Kliodna Moloney was exiled after criticizing an IRFU official in 2021. Credit: REUTERS/Lorraine O'sullivan
A month after the team failed to qualify for the Women's World Cup in New Zealand, 62 former and current players from Ireland wrote a letter to the Irish government saying they lost all matches. trust and confidence in IRFU and its leadership after historic setbacks.”
The group demanded «meaningful changes»; but 14 months later, Telegraph Sport found an alarming level of indifference on the part of the IRFU towards the women's team.
Change of shorts is a PR stunt
An anonymous player claims that the union's recent decision to replace the team's traditional white shorts with navy blue shorts is due to The fears of the period, which they adopted in conjunction with equipment supplier Canterbury, were nothing more than a ;PR stunt". She added that some members of the team found out about the news on Instagram.
"I've been on the team for four or five years now and we've never had any discussions about how we worry about playing in white shorts on our periods" said the player.
One player claimed he was not consulted about changing the color of the team's shorts. from white to blue this season. Photo: David Davies/PA Wire
IRFU disputes this claim and told Telegraph Sport that the issue of wearing white was first raised by players during the Japanese tour when players were told that there would be a switch to navy blue shorts.
There were also concerns about whether how news of the selection is communicated to the players. "Everyone has selection horror stories" the player said. "It has always been distorted in one way or another.
"They forgot to dump me once. It's happened a few times where 23 was named in an email and you got an email and you said «Oh, I got dumped and they did.» you forgot to tell me. Things like this have happened countless times. My roommate was not even included in the email list last year.
IRFU said they had no «recent evidence». players are skipped by email with team selection and that it has special rules instead of informing players of team selection.
“I was offered €15,000 but I was already making four times what former Ireland international Cathy O’Dwyer was among the many Irish players who turned down a full-time contract with IRFU. October of last year.
A latecomer to rugby, having previously excelled in the Gaelic sport of camogie, O'Dwyer made an instant impression in her relatively short 12-cap career with her raw athleticism.
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She was part of the Irish national team during that historic visit to Japan last fall and has gradually turned into a tough penny. The 31-year-old hoped to take her game to the next level, but when she was offered a full-time contract that required her to be based in Dublin, she had already made up her mind.
< img src="/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/91e348c9a3fc356969f64f7e47199b4d.jpg" /> Cathy O'Dwyer really couldn't afford to quit her job and go full-time for €15,000 a year Credit : ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images
“I was offered €15,000 (£13,200) for a 12-month contract. I was making about four times as much at my day job, so that's not an option at all.» said O'Dwyer, who works as a national parks and wildlife safety officer.
"In Dublin, you're probably talking about 8,000 to 10,000 euros just for rent. I'm lucky that I have savings, and I ran through all these scenarios in my head to make them work. Do I use my savings to keep myself basically… alive? It's just not possible.»
On average, the Irish team plays six matches per player, compared to England's 37th. O'Dwyer is a prime example of IRFU's talent drain. Ireland's Six Nations averaged eight caps per player last year. This year it has fallen even lower to six, in stark contrast to the England caps average of 37.
Perhaps the saddest part of her story is that she hoped IRFU would consider hybrid contracts, where players would share rugby with their day job, to ensure a smoother transition to professionalism. But even that path was quickly closed as IRFU favored a «full-time or nothing» approach.
"We tried to develop our own personal careers, as well as games and camping trips every weekend. In fact, you know that after rugby you will have nothing. You need to combine the two — rugby and work — in parallel with each other. O'Dwyer said.
“We asked this question with the whole team because it would suit a hell of a lot of people. There were definitely more people who had to leave because it wasn't possible. We said, «Why can't we take this road?» It just doesn't seem to be considered at all.»
IRFU told Telegraph Sport that they actively consulted with the players before making full-time contracts public last year and that they acted on the specific requests of the players. He added that the team's contract model is constantly being reviewed.
O'Dwyer says it's not about the money. It's about giving women athletes a choice by listening to them. She worries that younger and more impressionable players have been overwhelmed by the very idea of being paid to play and not to develop a dual career.
"If you have girlfriends now, say at 18, 19 years they think: «Happy days.» I have 15,000 euros a year,'" said O'Dwyer. “Are they neglecting their education and neglecting potential careers?” This sentiment is echoed by Cronin, who has been approached by parents of young players in the current Ireland squad to express their concerns. on whether their daughters are ready for international rugby.
O'Dwyer adds: «Sounds great when you're that age and can say 'I'I'm paid to play' #39;But are they at a disadvantage when they graduate in 5-10 years time?Where are they then in terms of education and professional development?"
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