IRFU must listen, learn, and then act to save women's rugby

Although what the players are ultimately asking for is no quick fix, there are many areas that can be improved speedily and without massive wads of cash

A sport that receives state funding must reflect the country around it and it will never do that if those tasked with making all its decisions are from one demographic. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

When the history of Irish women’s rugby is written, the events of the past 10 days will likely loom large as a pivotal moment in the sport.

Although nothing has changed yet, the combination of a unified approach from the players — which included a meeting with ministers on Tuesday — their consistent message that women are being let down by the IRFU, and the noises from politicians that funding should be withheld till this mess is sorted out, puts the IRFU in a difficult position.