Two years on from the Pau debacle, the Irish women’s rugby team will return to the Stade du Hameau – where perhaps the seeds for this year’s Grand Slam were sown – for their
Six Nations
meeting with France.
They lost the 2012 match 8-7 after a 17-hour overnight train from Paris, only getting them into the city at 7am before a 3.30pm kick-off.
This time Fiona Coghlan's squad will be on a chartered flight along with the Ireland Under-20s, who also play France at a nearby ground.
The union have released all but one of the women’s Six Nations venues for 2014.
The Italy match, down for Saturday, March 8th, has not yet been confirmed for the Aviva Stadium.
In what would be a historic first, it is expected to take place after the corresponding men’s fixture.
Twickenham are hosting both men and women on the same day, February 22nd, with punters who do not purchase tickets for the men’s fixture (kick-off 4pm) to be allowed enter the stadium to view the women’s match (6.30pm).
The other home games, against Scotland (January 31st) and Wales (February 7th), are returning to Ashbourne RFC for the popular Friday night under floodlights ties.
The French match is also on a Friday, March 14th, but the kick-off is still to be confirmed.
Meanwhile, Anthony Foley will double up his forward coaching duties with Munster when he takes charge of the Irish Wolfhounds for the one-off game against the England Saxons in the January 25th.
Indigenous coach
Another indigenous coach, the former scrumhalf Neil Doak, who runs the Ulster backline, will act as Foley's assistant.
Leinster’s Richie Murphy is the only other established professional, Irish-born coach working at provincial level and in a national capacity, as he was part of Joe Schmidt’s ticket in November assisting the place-kickers.
Doak and Foley worked with Les Kiss as the most inexperienced Ireland side in 50 years beat the USA and Canada last summer.
“The appointment of Anthony and Neil provides continuity and recognises the positive contribution they made on the North American tour earlier this year,” said Schmidt.
