IRELAND WILL PLAY their home Women’s Six Nations matches in Dublin, Cork and Belfast next year.
Under new head coach Greg McWilliams, the Irish team will begin their campaign against Wales at the RDS on 26 March.
They will also line out at Musgrave Park against Italy on 10 April, as well as a ‘Super Sunday’ meeting with Scotland at Kingspan Stadium on 30 April.
The three home fixtures will be broken up by trips to France (2 April) and England (24 April).
Today’s announcement comes as part of a number of changes to the tournament’s schedule and broadcast coverage.
The new six-week window in late March and April means it will no longer be linked to the men’s Six Nations calendar.
Meanwhile, all 15 matches will be broadcast on RTÉ and Virgin Media in Ireland, on the BBC in the UK and on Sky Italia in Italy, with details in France yet to be confirmed.
“We are delighted to announce that it will be even easier for fans around the county to support our women’s team in the 2022 Six Nations as we look at increasing the accessibility, profile, and interest in our women’s rugby team across the country,” said IRFU chief executive Philip Browne.
Support for the team has grown strongly as they moved from Ashbourne, to Energia Park and the RDS and we hope that by bringing the team closer to the provincial clubs that are developing women’s and girl’s rugby, we can encourage even more female involvement, at all levels.
“The three provincial venues deliver top-flight facilities and playing surfaces that will allow for the best of international women’s rugby, and we are optimistic that our 2022 Six Nations will be one of the best supported campaigns ever.”
2022 Women’s Six Nations
- 26 March: Ireland v Wales, RDS (4.45pm)
- 2 April: France v Ireland (3.15pm)
- 10 April: Ireland v Italy, Musgrave Park (5pm)
- 24 April: England v Ireland (12pm)
- 30 April: Ireland v Scotland, Kingspan Stadium (8pm)
It’ll be interesting to see which anthem is played before the match in Belfast….and how annoyed people get whichever one is used!
@Kevin Brett: Surely just do Ireland’s Call
@Kevin Brett: oh cripes I didn’t think of that. I still remember clenching my teeth and fists listening to the UK anthem in Croke Park.
@Kevin Brett: pre 2007 world cup we played Italy in ravenhill , paisley jr having a hissy fit that only irelands call was going to be played
@Kevin Brett: It’ll be Ireland’s Call with nothing else.
@Anna Carr: Protocol (should I use that word) says ‘God Save The Queen’ as the anthem of the host country followed by ‘Ireland’s Call’ as the anthem of the host union.
@Anna Carr: Why were you so upset? Surely we, as a nation, have moved on? And the respect that ‘God Save The Queen’ was given that day was fabulous.
@Anna Carr: No such thing as a UK anthem.
@Eoin Roche: I thought that was all there was? There aren’t official anthems for the constituent territories but for the Union there is.
@sean o’dhubhghaill: that is the protocol yes as explained as why Amhrán na bhFiann is played in Dublin in advance of Irelands call. Will be interesting alright
Would ya look at the legs and muscles on Parsons! No wonder she’s one of the fastest players on the field, some engines built in to those legs! Looking forward to seeing her tear it up in the 6N’s.
I wonder how Aviva will react to this. Didn’t their sponsorship of the stadium come with a proviso that all capped Irish games had to be in Lansdowne Road? I just recall being livid that the Irish first team game at Thomond Park was uncapped for sponsorship reasons and that it robbed Nevin Spence of his senior cap.
@SomeGuy: did you read the headline ? It’s the womens game so I doubt Aviva will care !