Ireland make permanent switch from white to navy shorts to address period concerns

The Ireland women's national team will make a permanent switch from the traditional white shorts to navy as part of a drive to address period concerns.

The Irish side, whose kits are supplied by Canterbury, are the first Six Nations side to make such a move which was prompted by players' feedback around period anxieties.

Ireland's new kits will be unveiled in London on Wednesday at the launch of the upcoming Six Nations campaign which will see Greg McWilliams' side kick off the tournament against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, 25 March.

Ireland international Enya Breen welcomed the move from white to navy.

"The top way to ensure we perform to our best on the field is by removing any unnecessary distractions," she said.

"Wearing navy shorts instead of white is such a small thing, but for us it's a big step from Canterbury and the IRFU. Our hope is that it will help women at all levels of rugby feel more comfortable on the field so they can get on with performing at their best in the game that they love."

Last October, Manchester City FC announced that their women's teams would change the colour of their shorts from the 2023-24 season due to players' concerns about wearing white while on their periods.

"The world is starting to treat female athletes like female athletes." The RTÉ Soccer panel examine the changing views towards women's menstruation in sport, and how kit designs to reflect that are inevitable. pic.twitter.com/iNwuDiiR06