Leinster retained the IRFU Women’s Interprovincial Championship with a 25-12 win over Connacht at Energia Park - the first time they have won back-to-back titles.

A number of field event records were the highlights of the first day of the South Munster Schools T&F which took place in cool and wet conditions at Cork IT.

Ahead of their meeting in the Women’s Six Nations at Donnybrook tomorrow afternoon (1pm kick-off), Niamh Briggs acknowledged that Scotland are becoming a dangerous proposition for Ireland.

Dee Blayney’s 54th-minute point proved the winner as Meath’s Dunboyne captured the All-Ireland intermediate ladies club football championship at Parnell Park today.

A “rollercoaster” journey which has brought the town together “like I’ve never seen it before”.

Norita Duggan, a top club rugby coach, has expressed serious criticism of the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) after its latest edict on how to approach the development of the women’s game in Ireland.

There’ll be much soul-searching and head scratching once they’ve been put out of their misery, but right now, Ireland will lift their heads one last time in a bid to take something meaningful out of this Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Claire McLaughlin admits Ireland’s players have let themselves down at this World Cup but believes they can still salvage something from the wreckage.

Let’s start with a positive. Ireland scored four tries for the first time in the competition, but unfortunately once again failed to gain any traction in a tournament which has unravelled at an incredible rate.

Here's your lunchtime news bulletin.

The temptation is to say ‘game over’ for Ireland after the host nation came out a distant second-best in this win-or-bust Pool C decider against a slick French side in the Women’s Rugby World Cup at Belfield last night.

No-one did more to bail Ireland out than Jenny Murphy when Australia had them under the pump in their Pool C opener eight days ago.

No-one did more to bail Ireland out than Jenny Murphy when Australia had them under the pump in their Pool C opener eight days ago.

The Ireland Women’s management team has confirmed a 48-strong training panel to prepare for the Women’s Rugby World Cup in Dublin and Belfast in August. 

Ireland 7 England 34: England’s women captured their first Six Nations title since 2012 as they swept to victory in a pulsating Grand Slam decider at Donnybrook last night.

The Ireland Women's challenge fell away in the final quarter at Donnybrook tonight as England secured their first Women's Six Nations title since 2012.

The Ireland Women mastered the squally conditions at Donnybrook to deservedly grind out a 13-10 win over France in front of an enraptured 3,886-strong crowd.

Captain Paula Fitzpatrick admits Irish discipline must improve if they are to maintain their perfect start to the RBS Six Nations away to Italy tomorrow afternoon (1pm, live on RTE Two).

Ireland head coach Tom Tierney has named Cork woman Elaine Anthony in his side to take on their Italian counterparts at the Stadio Tommaso Fattori in L’Aquila on Sunday, as Ireland look to build on an injury-time win over Scotland last weekend.

Jenny Murphy scored a try in the final play of the night to snatch a dramatic victory for Ireland in difficult conditions.

A new home, the RBS 6 Nations title to defend and changing priorities make for a challenging year for Niamh Briggs and her Ireland women’s team but head coach Tom Tierney is relishing the opportunity to strike the right balance.

It was another memorable weekend for Irish women’s rugby as Anthony Eddy’s charges secured their place in the 2015/16 Women’s Sevens Series at the end of an eventful two-day Qualifier Tournament in UCD.

Schools need to employ different strategies to get more girls involved in physical education classes, writes Helen O’Callaghan.

Scotland 3 Ireland 73

RBS Women’s 6 Nations

Ireland’s U20s and Women’s: Both teams enjoyed ultimately comfortable openings to their respective Six Nations campaigns last Friday.

Ireland women head coach Tom Tiernan has made one change to Ireland’s starting XV for Friday’s RBS Six Nations match against France in Ashbourne.

Italy 5 Ireland 30: Women’s Six Nations Championship: New captain Niamh Briggs led by example with a woman of the match performance as Ireland got their Six Nations campaign off to a winning start.

Italy Women 5 Ireland Women 30

Ireland Women's Coach Tom Tierney has named six uncapped players in their squad for their 6 Nations opener against Italy in Florence on Friday night (6pm Irish Time).

WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP:

The Ireland Women ended their World Cup journey with a best ever finish of fourth place after falling to France in a bruising 3rd/4th place play-off tie in Paris.

The IRFU have announced the team that will play France to decide third and fourth place in the women’s rugby World Cup.

Ireland's first ever Women's Rugby World Cup semi-final appearance turned into a nightmare outing as dominant England hit them with 40 unanswered points in Paris.

Ireland Women's rugby coach Philip Doyle has named the same side that overcame New Zealand for their Women's Rugby World Cup semi-final against England tomorrow.

New Zealand 14 Ireland 17

The Irish Women's team have beaten the four-time World Champions New Zealand by 17 points to 14 in their World Cup clash in Paris this evening.

The Ireland Women's team to play New Zealand in the second round of the IRB Women's Rugby World Cup has been named.

IRFU WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP POOL B:

Niamh Briggs accumulated 18 points as Ireland outfought and outfoxed a physical USA team to begin the Women's Rugby World Cup in winning style.