IRFU tight-lipped on reports of McWilliams departure

The IRFU say they have no comment to make on reports that Greg McWilliams has stepped down as head coach of the Ireland women's team.

The Irish Independent reported on Monday night that McWilliams will depart his role with immediate effect, after Ireland finished bottom of the TikTok Women's Six Nations with five defeats from five games.

The former Irish assistant replaced Adam Griggs as head coach in January of 2022, with Ireland winning just three of his 12 games in charge, the most recent victory coming on the summer tour of Japan last year.

A first Six Nations wooden spoon since 2004 has wider implications for Ireland, who are now set to be in the bottom tier of the inaugural WXV competition later this year.

McWilliams, who was under contract until the end of 2023, is believed to have informed members of the squad that he is stepping aside immediately, while the positions of senior coach John McKee, and assistants Niamh Briggs and Denis Fogarty are still unclear.

When contacted by RTÉ Sport, the IRFU said they would not be commenting on McWilliams' reported departure.

While Ireland were beaten comfortably at home by England and France as expected, the campaign unraveled in their away losses to Wales, Italy and Scotland, with McWilliams' side scoring just three tries and 25 points across five games, conceding 192.

The championship ended with a 36-10 defeat to Scotland in Edinburgh, after which McWilliams insisted there were better times ahead for the squad.

"I'm so proud of the players. Again, lots of lessons learned in that game and we’ve got to get better, but they’re a terrific group," he said.

"They’ve been through a tough Six Nations, we know that, but we are where we are.

"We have to own where we are and we’ve got to get