Claffey: Club scene vital for women's game in Ireland

Former Ireland international Michelle Claffey says the IRFU must protect the club game as they move towards more professional structures in the future.

With the IRFU introducing professional contracts for women's XV players in recent months, and plans in the works for a Celtic Cup with Welsh and Scottish teams in the coming years, it leaves uncertainty around how the women's domestic game will look like in the long-term.

The new WXV competition in 2023 will also see an increase in international games, with Irish Rugby's performance director David Nucifora recently suggesting that the Energia All Ireland League could become a vehicle for developing players, rather than being the elite domestic league it currently is.

"I think the club belongs at the heart of the rugby journey of anyone who puts on an Irish jersey," said Blackrock captain Claffey, ahead of their meeting with Railway Union in this Friday's final at Energia Park in Donnybrook (7.45pm).

"The club is there, and clubs have been there historically for years. I think it's very important that there remains a link.

"Rugby is about community, it’s about community spirit and people being able to come down to the club on a Friday or Saturday or Sunday and participate. To sever a link with the club, it would be terrible for rugby as a whole. I don’t want to separate into men and women because that’s not fair."

The Offaly native, who retired from Test rugby this summer, says the AIL can be a gateway to inspiring young players to the game.

"Where will a nine-year-old girl go, who's living in Dublin, to play rugby? They see it at the professional stance and wonder, 'how do I get there?'

"We had an underage section in Blackrock and there are minis coming through and they were