A man’s world?

Women’s rug

Thu, 06 Feb, 2003 - 00:00

is one of Ireland’s fastest growing sports but still struggles to be taken seriously, a fact not helped the international team’s lack of success. But two of Ireland’s most promising players feel that the situation is about to change as they face into another Six Nations campaign. Hugh Farrelly reports.

IT’S the same every year. The sun beats down on the picturesque resort of Kinsale, a town thronged with beer-swilling rugger jocks and their sirens, in town for the annual end of season sevens jaunt by the sea.

Though the participating teams take it all very seriously, it is primarily a social occasion. The men are clad in rugby jerseys or the alternative rugby uniform of light blue Ralph Lauren shirts and beige chinos, the well-groomed women keep their long shiny hair out of their eyes with ray-ban sunglasses and glide about, bottle of ‘Heino’ in one hand, mobile phone in the other.