Briggs: Increased playing numbers are key to Ireland's development

Last weekend’s 69-0 hockeying by England has only thrown more petrol on the raging debate about the absence of of professional contracts for Ireland’s XV players and why the IRFU has so many players doubling up and prioritising Sevens this year, stripping Ireland’s XVs of so much talent for their last two Six Nations’ games.

Ireland assistant coach Niamh Briggs

NIAMH Briggs has welcomed the news that United Rugby Championship (URC) bosses are exploring the possibility of establishing a European women’s club competition but says it shouldn’t come at a cost to Ireland’s interprovincial system.

URC chief executive Martin Anayi has just revelaed that a women's URC is a project that he would like to see up and running ‘sooner rather than later’.