This week’s Munster Branch AGM at Nenagh RFC had seen a motion to put the province women’s teams on the same playing field as teams within Connacht, Leinster and Ulster by awarding senior status to women’s AIL clubs as is enjoyed by their male equivalents. Munster Rugby deferred this and it wasn’t passed. Munster said they need to meet with key stakeholders to discuss proposed amendments into their bye-laws. This decision in particular affected Cork club Ballincollig RFC whom still is regarded as a Junior club.
At the 11th hour tonight, the Munster Branch withdrew the motion to recognise women's AIL clubs and players as senior from its AGM agenda. Suggestion is it wasn't going to pass. Leinster, Connacht & Ulster all recognise Women's AIL clubs and players as senior https://t.co/3uItsOz1qv
— Rúaidhrí O'Connor (@RuaidhriOC) March 31, 2022
As the news broke on Friday I felt I was transported back to a time of years gone by. Sadly the reality of the situation in Ireland is the women are far from being treated as equals. Yes we have heard the hash tags and the campaigns to promote the women’s game, unfortunately this is all they are a Marketing and tick the box exercise.
Yesterday Munster Rugby’s Men’s team suffered a huge loss to Leinster at Thomond Park but what I took from that was not about the game but the fact the stands where half empty. As someone who was involved with the Club and is an avid Munster fan through and through, I find it soul destroying at how the Club has turned out. I for one will never darken Thomond Park until this decision has been over turned, how many feel how I feel?
If that was a Munster v Leinster Derby ten years ago you wouldn’t get elbow room in the stands now the club struggles to sell tickets. Munster have completely lost connection with their fans and will continue to do so when they make decisions that affect a huge proportion of their fan base. If Munster want to strive collectively as a Club they need to accept that times have changed. We are in the year 2022, women in rugby need to be accepted as equals and as a result treated.
Misogyny alive and well in Munster. May ye be dragged by the eyelids through a pile of steaming shite and into the 21st century.
Amen https://t.co/ogSPQ1KJZT— Cliodhna Moloney (@cmoloney3) April 1, 2022
