IRELAND’S WOMEN CAN this afternoon officially call themselves Six Nations champions as the sit top of the table with eight points.
The side, coached by Philip Doyle and captained by Fiona Coughlan, reinforced their title credentials with victory over France in Ashbourne last night.
Tries from Niamh Briggs and Ailis Egan, plus a conversion and penalty from Briggs, gave the hosts a 15-10 win over Les Bleus.
That left Italy needing a win away to England this afternoon to keep a slim hope of overtaking Ireland alive.
Instead, they were handed a resounding 34-0 defeat by the deposed champions to leave Ireland four points clear of France, England and Italy with just one game left to play.
It is the first time since Scotland’s 1998 triumph that neither England or France have taken the crown. The first act of the new champions will be to travel to Milan next weekend, where Italy will stand between them and a historic Grand Slam.
