THE IRELAND WOMEN’S team will take on England at Twickenham in the 2014 Six Nations on February the 22nd.
This stage is fully deserved for the current Grand Slam champions, with the 82,000-capacity stadium in London set to host the men’s game between England and Joe Schmidt’s Ireland on the same day.
The women’s game has been confirmed as a 6.30pm kick-off and entry to the game will be free. That should ensure a big crowd, particularly as the men’s fixture will get underway at 4.00pm. The hope and expectation is that many of the supporters of the men’s clash will remain in the stadium for the second game.
For those unable to travel to the English capital that weekend, the women’s clash will be broadcast live on BBC Sport. This fixture represents another sign of the manner in which women’s rugby is growing in Europe and it is to be hoped that weather conditions allow both teams to show off their skill levels.
Ireland Women are facing into a testing season after the Grand Slam they secured back in March. Their success, confirmed with a 6-3 win over Italy in appalling conditions, means the five other nations will be keen to remove them from their pedestal.
The retirement of the strong-running Joy Neville is a blow to Ireland’s hopes, but the majority of last season’s squad has been retained.
