'We're in a different world' - New year and new standards as women's game grows

If you're a casual fan, it might seem tough to keep up with the current calendar in women's rugby. But such is the pace of change in the game.

The growth has been steady in recent years, but as the rest of the rugby world tries to make up ground on the chasm opened up by New Zealand and England, as well as the hugely successful World Cup a few months ago, the women's game is on a steep, upward trajectory.

The landscape of the game, even in Ireland, is almost unrecognisable to what it was even 18 months ago, although if that lawn had been better maintained it wouldn't have needed a resodding in the first place.

This afternoon, the 2022/23 Women's Interprovincial Series gets under way, with defending champions Munster hosting Ulster, and Leinster entertaining Connacht, beginning a hectic and hugely important year for the women's game.

After three Rounds of Interprovincials, a combined provinces team will come together under the coaching of Ireland boss Greg McWilliams to enter the Celtic Challenge tournament, where they will a representative side from Wales and Scotland respectively, with that competition leading us to the Six Nations, which is settling nicely into it's new standalone home, separate from the men's tournament.

The dilemma facing the game's organisers however, both internationally and domestically, is fitting everything in.

The WXV will be the big addition to Test rugby in 2023, providing more regular competitive games, but also putting an extra strain on the calendar. The opportunity cost in Ireland is likely to be the All Ireland league, as hinted by IRFU performance director David Nucifora (below), who last year said the club game will become a developmental league, rather than the elite competition.

It's likely