Cantwell calls for further financial backing for women's game

Former Ireland star welcomes IRFU appointment of new Women's Performance chief but says more steps are needed 

Watching closely: Lynne Cantwell is currently Women’s High Performance manager for South African Rugby. Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Lynne Cantwell has called for further investment to domestic women’s rugby in Ireland if the game is to build on the positive steps taken by the IRFU this summer.

The former Ireland star and current Women’s High Performance manager for South African Rugby backed the appointment of new IRFU Head of Women’s Performance Gillian McDarby and the governing body’s move to contract Ireland’s elite women’s players. But speaking on the TritonLake Perform podcast Cantwell said the professional direction taken needed to be underpinned at lower levels of the game if the moves were to be sustained and Irish women’s rugby was to go from strength to strength.