Norita Duggan hits out at IRFU’s approach to women’s game

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.

Having hosted a Women’s Rugby World Cup, the IRFU parted company with head coach Tom Tierney and now it has been announced that a new coach for women will be a part-timer, and for a period of just six months.

That has led to an outpouring of annoyance from people involved, among them Ireland centre Jenny Murphy, who tweeted: “A kick in the teeth for players. So much progress made by other nations and we take five steps backwards”