Rugby star Sophie Spence wants female Irish players to “receive an equal level of respect and treatment” as their male counterparts.

Munster regained the IRFU Women’s Interprovincial Championship crown by virtue of scoring difference after defeating 2016 champions Leinster (11-5) at Thomond Park on Saturday.

The IRFU Women’s Interprovincial Championship goes down to the wire this afternoon when Munster host champions Leinster in a top of the table clash at Thomond Park (2.30pm).

Ireland 17 Wales 27

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.

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. 

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.

Ireland women’s coach Tom Tierney has named five uncapped players in his Six Nations squad but it is the absence of former World Player of the Year nominee Sophie Spence that stood out.

France's two-try first half salvo saw the Ireland Women lose 18-6 in tonight's Women's RBS 6 Nations showdown in Perpignan.

Women’s International

The Ireland Women’s rugby squad to play England women in a historic first Autumn International match has been named.

Where once the second rows were an odd couple of beanpole and bruiser, now they’re amongst the game’s elite - Retallick, O’Connell, Matfield. And their impact on the World Cup will be considerable, says an original of the species

Munster 15 Leinster 7 (Ladies Interpro final): A polished performance from international Niamh Briggs led Munster, who had eight from the Highfield club in the starting side, to back-to-back interprovincial titles before a bigger than expected crowd at Thomond Park on Saturday

The trimming has begun.

Scotland 3 Ireland 73

Ireland 5 France 10

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.

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.

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.

Full-back Niamh Briggs has applauded the Irish support in France and at home, and hopes Ireland’s Rugby World Cup adventure continues to gain momentum.

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.

Meet the women representing Ireland at the Women’s Rugby World Cup in France, with the first match at 4pm this evening.

Ireland coach Philip Doyle has made two changes from the side that demolished Scotland for tomorrow night’s RBS Women’s Six Nations clash with Wales (Ashbourne, 7.30pm).

Ireland 50 Scotland 0

Ireland 59 Scotland 0

Italy Women 3 Ireland Women 6

RBS Six Nations Women's Championship

Six Nations Ladies

Wales 10 Ireland 12

England Women 23 Ireland Women 6

Ireland Women's coach Philip Doyle has made one change for the final game of this year's RBS 6 Nations against England as the team target a triple crown win.

Ireland’s women called upon endless reserves of defensive grit for the second week running as they defeated Scotland in Ashbourne.

Ireland women 20 Scotland women 0