THE IRFU’S DIRECTOR of women’s and sevens rugby, Anthony Eddy, says he was ‘surprised’ by the way the union’s decision to turn down an invite from Rugby Australia for a women’s three-Test series ‘became an issue for some people.’
It was revealed last month that the IRFU declined an invitation to send the national women’s team Down Under for a series against the Wallaroos, which would have made up double-headers with the men’s games in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
The decision caused consternation across the board, with many past and current players not shy in publicly voicing their disappointment in what was the latest episode during a difficult year for the women’s game in Ireland.
“It didn’t suit us at the time, it wasn’t short notice, it didn’t fit with our programme,” Eddy said, further emphasising the comments David Nucifora made over the issue last month.
“It was offered in December, if I remember correctly, and turned down in January, if I remember correctly. I was surprised it became an issue for some people.”
Speaking at the announcement of Ireland’s squads for next week’s Sevens World Cup, Eddy insisted that the IRFU is fully focused on developing both the 15s and sevens codes, with the long-awaited strategic review into the women’s game expected to be completed in the next month or two.
“The review is still a work in progress,” he continued.
“We’re continuing to look at the best way to develop the [women's] game and develop the playing base. We need a critical player base to compete on the world stage on a consistent basis. We’re hoping for something [to be published] over the next month, or two months.
“We’re not like most countries, we don’t have a huge playing pool.
“We’re still looking to develop the numbers. Sevens is a great introduction to the game, but we’ll always have players playing 15s and sevens. We’re not focused on one or the other, we’re focused on women’s rugby and trying to develop the numbers so we can compete.”
Both Ireland men and women will be in action at the Sevens World Cup in San Fransisco next week, with the cut-throat nature of the tournament meaning there is little margin for error if either side want to progress.
The men’s team open their campaign against Chile at the AT&T Stadium on Friday 20 July, with the winners progressing to face South Africa in the second round, while the women’s team go head-to-head with England in their opening fixture.
Despite a hugely progressive season which saw the men finish third on their World Series debut, Eddy is realistic about Ireland’s chances on the big stage: “It’s a challenging tournament because of the format of the tournament, it’s cut-throat you have to go and win every game if you want to win the World Cup.
“Both teams will go there with the aspirations and the ambitions to be extremely successful, but sometimes sevens can be a really cruel game as well, so we’re realistic about our chances.”
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Glad to see both managers talking sense. I know Antrim got to the final of the U21 few years back but in general ulster teams got a hiding in all ireland semi finals.
Saturday’s mismatch was no Benifit to anyone. Ok as the Derry manager said his players want to play in Thurles etc. They can’t have enjoyed the Thurles experience on Saturday.
Try an open draw as Eddie said, and a proper B grade competition with ulster trans included with the final on the same day as the A final.
@Diarmuid: there already is a b competition and the final is played before the a final
@Noel Kelly: i realise that Noel but as the Derry manager said the B grade should be restructed to include the ulster champions as well. They are out of there depth at the A level
@Diarmuid: and too good for the B Championship.
Completely agree with Eddie Brendan. This year’s semi finals illustrated the serious issues facing hurling. The Kilkenny Derry game is self explanatory. No way should both teams be on the same pitch. It hinders rather than helps both counties. On the other side we had probably the best u21 team in the country playing their first championship match against a battle hardned side. Very unfair on Galway. Tom Fahey
All about bloody funding,the love for hurling in Derry(parts of)is there,was involved in schools in the 80s,all funded , introduced hurling,football camphor,to kids who wouldn’t have even seen it before,funding ran out(cross border funding) after 2 years,so a lot of kids who weren’t in Gaa clubs finished being interested in our national games,we were full time in primary/secondary schools,do when the scheme finished,most of our work came to nothing,(all coaches were badged)feel something like this initiative needs to happen in Ulster
@billy Dorney: excuse the misspelling,camogie,i meant
@billy Dorney: There is a lot more to it than that, there are many counties and county boards throughout Ireland that refuse to promote hurling as it should as it eat up all resources that Gaelic Football uses, it is so pathetic that there are many counties that do not even put forward a B U21 team, the big ball is king.
@ktsiwot: agree
@ktsiwot: yes,and it’s not going to change anytime soon,so hurling loses
why is the solution always to throw them into Leinster? Wexford Dublin and even westmeath would have hammered that Derry team. why just devalue Leinster and leave precious Munster alone? if ya want to get rid of the provinces, then they all have to go and open up to a group
@Ger O’Meara: devalue leinster by adding Galway u must be joking look how much they have added to the senior hurling.
Galway should go into Leinster and then winners of Leinster and Munster go straight to the final. Big mistake to let go of the Munster Championship if it happens.
All this absolute shite talk about the “Munster championship” what’s so sacred about it. Limerick and Clare have won loads of Munster U21 in last decade and are currently way off the pace required at senior level..There will always be an asterix beside the 2013 AIF. The Munster SHC has been quite poor for years, take out Tipp and the rest are average enough, except for a few bubble performances here and there.. They dont like to hear that in Munster, but thats a fact..It’s not all that!
@Lord Clanricarde: I don’t get this asterix thing about 2013. Why is there an asterix about it. Clare beat everyone put before them and won the all Ireland. End of story. It’s not like Kilkenny, Tipp and Galway didn’t enter the championship that. Same teams started out as every year so I think people need to give Clare the respect they deserve and stop downgrading their all Ireland. If Kilkenny had won in 2013 instead of Clare there’d be no talk of asterix’s. Cork won 2010 football all Ireland beating down. Tipp beat Antrim in an all Ireland in 89 I think. Why no asterix’s against them???
@Lord “up me own hole from Galway”Please stop blowing your own pipa you clown.
@John Carroll: Nice to see neither if ye argued with me on the fact that Munster hurling is not all it’s cracked up to be.. It’s a competition full of sentimentality and old farts scared of change in case it effects the “magical” Munster championship!..Nevermind that Tipp win it whenever they decide to get the lead out!!
Galway should go into Leinster and the winners of Leinster and Munster then play in All Ireland Final. Big mistake if we lost the Munster Championship