Fiona Hayes fumes over ‘belittling of the women’s game’

Criticism of the Irish Rugby Football Union continues to mount following a decision to downgrade the position of head coach for the national women’s team as advertised on a part time/casual basis and for just six months.

Current Irish internationals and several former players have been seething that the national body appears to be lending weight to promoting national sevens rugby to the detriment of the 15-a-side game. Fiona Hayes has represented Ireland 15 times, was a member of the 2014 World Cup squad and helped Ireland win two Six Nations. As UL Bohemian captain, she understands the upset caused to the international squad, many of whom play for the Limerick club.

“This is belittling the women’s game and I feel this is certainly going backwards rather than forwards. Basically, the recent World Cup wasn’t as successful as they thought it would be and it seems as if the IRFU has turned around and decided to concentrate on the sevens game,” she said yesterday.