IRFU hits back, refuting 'disappointing' letter from women players, as Government seeks meeting

Picture: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE

The IRFU has criticised both the tone and the timing of a letter sent by dozens of current and former women’s internationals to the Minister of Sport in which the group declares a lack of trust and confidence in the union and its leadership.

Over 60 players, including the likes of Fiona Coghlan, Lynn Cantwell, Claire Molloy, Ciara Griffin, and Sene Naoupu, put their names to the missive which pulls no punches on the IRFU’s perceived role into a women’s game which it says is in “disarray”.

A flurry of accusations litters the correspondence, among them a “lack of ambition” for the women’s game and “inequitable and untrustworthy leadership” which they believe has led to “multiple cycles of substandard commitment from the union”.

The players also stated their absence of faith in the two reviews being conducted by the IRFU into the women’s game, given their experience of past undertakings and the confirmation that only key findings will once again be released this time.

A long and detailed document, the IRFU’s rebuttal was of similar volume and started off by ‘refuting’ the “overall tenor of the document which questions the IRFU’s commitment to, and leadership of, the women’s game in Ireland”.

It went on: “It is disappointing that this group should choose now to come out with a series of allegations,” it read, “given all involved in Irish Rugby are fully aware that two well resourced, independent reviews are in train and it is from these reviews that lessons, based on fact, can be learned and the foundations built which will serve the women’s game well for future generations.” 

The union declared itself to be “fully committed” to the development of the women’s game based on a sustainable structure from bottom to top and added that the “responsible approach” would have been to allow the reviews conclude without “outside interference”.

It continued: “The Union is already publicly committed to relying on the findings of that report as it plots future campaigns.” 

The Government have responded to the players and stated they have sought a meeting with the IRFU over the letter.

“Ministers Martin and Chambers have received a letter which outlined a number of issues of concern within women’s rugby in Ireland,” reads a statement from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media.

“That letter is being considered with the upmost seriousness, particularly in the context of the leadership that the players have shown in recent years in driving the game forward.

“The Ministers have written to the players to let them know they have sought a meeting with the IRFU to discuss the issues raised by the players. They have also requested that Sport Ireland engage with the players. The Ministers advised the players they will be happy to meet directly with them also.”

THE IRFU’S STATEMENT IN FULL:

"The IRFU is aware of a letter sent to the Minister for Sport re Irish Women’s Rugby and refutes the overall tenor of the document which questions the IRFU’s commitment to, and leadership of, the women’s game in Ireland.

It is disappointing that this group should chose now to come out with a series of allegations, given all involved in Irish Rugby are fully aware that two well resourced, independent reviews are in train and it is from these reviews that lessons, based on fact, can be learned and the foundations built which will serve the women’s game well for future generations.

The IRFU is fully committed to the development of the women’s game based on a sustainable structure, from grassroots up to international level. This is evident from the level of absolute commitment already in place by volunteers in clubs throughout the country, the IRFU rugby development team who are working tirelessly to bring the game to ever widening playing audiences and the committee who have sanctioned ever increasing budgets in support of the women’s game.

The responsible approach would be to allow these reviews progress and conclude their work independently, without attempts to influence their work through outside interference.

For the benefit of those who may not be aware and to balance, in some way, the opinions promoted in this recent letter it is important to reiterate that the IRFU has already publicly announced and set in train an independent review into, what was for all in Irish Rugby, players, team management, IRFU committee and executives, the hugely disappointing failure of our women’s senior international team to qualify for the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2023. This review is under the direction of an independent consultant, Amanda Bennett, former Welsh Rugby International and Founder of FairPlay, and will examine the preparation, participation, and performance of the Ireland Women's XV during the recent RWC 2021 qualifying campaign. It is important that the integrity and independence of this review, which includes feedback from players, is not compromised in any way. The Union is already publicly committed to relying on the findings of that report as it plots future campaigns.

Allied to this is the more far-reaching review, established several months ago following a recommendation from the IRFU’s Women’s Advisory Group. The review group is chaired by John Robinson, Senior Vice President IRFU and IRFU committee members Fiona Steed and Su Carty and will be looking in depth at the long-term interests of the women’s game, including the alignment between the Domestic Game and The High-Performance areas, player pathways and women’s competitive structures.

All understand the importance of the international game in this matrix but of equal importance is the development of a structure for the long-term growth of the game at grassroots around club players and young girls coming into the game for the first time. An up-to-date summary of the exceptional work being done by the IRFU’s rugby development team in the promotion and coaching of the game highlights the work being undertaken by club volunteers for the 5,800 girls active across 68 U14 Girls teams, 64 U16 Girls teams and 56 U18 Girls teams, together with the 2,784 women playing across 81 adult women’s teams. In addition, it paints the pathway from mini rugby, and Aldi Play Rugby, which is played by over 29,000 girls, to international level for girls entering the game.

Full details can be seen here.