Ireland women: IRFU CEO apologises to players for failures in women’s game

IRFU chief Kevin Potts has formally apologised to Ireland’s players for failures in the women’s game.

It comes as Irish rugby’s governing body has agreed to implement all 30 recommendations made by an independent panel following a review into the women’s team’s failure to qualify for the 2021 World Cup.

These include an additional 1m euro of annual funding to women’s rugby in Ireland and the creation of a full-time ‘head of women’s performance and pathways’ role.

Players representatives have welcomed the recommendations, while the IRFU has also appointed a full-time team manager to take charge of team logistics.

Both sides, who were publicly at loggerheads in the latter months of 2021 after defeats by Spain and Scotland ended their World Cup hopes, have expressed optimism that the review can prompt a new beginning for Irish women’s rugby.

IRFU chief Potts – who came into the role in January – apologised to the women’s players for “falling short” of their commitment to “building success together”.

“We are committed to putting that right and we regard the recommendations of this independent review as a solid basis from which to reignite the long-term development of women’s rugby in Ireland.

“We accept the independent review’s recommendations in full. Some are in place and we are already acting on many of them.”