IRFU ‘hopeful’ of Irish record Women’s Six Nations attendance in Sunday’s clash with Italy
A general view of the RDS in Dublin
The IRFU are “hopeful” of a record attendance for a Women’s Six Nations game in Ireland when Scott Bemand’s team play Italy at the RDS on Sunday.
An IRFU spokesperson told the Irish Independent there are close to 5,500 tickets sold for Ireland’s first home game of the championship.
It’s hoped the final tally will surpass the attendance of 6,113 for Ireland’s game against Wales at the RDS two years ago which was a record crowd for a standalone Women’s Six Nations game in Ireland.
Ireland are targeting their first win in the Women’s Six Nations since April 2022. They lost their opening game of this season’s campaign to France at the Stade Marie-Marvingt, Le Mans last Saturday where there was an attendance of 15,559.
“The French had just under 16,000 people there so it would be great to have that kind of volume of Irish support and to see what kind of noise they can bring to spur us on,” says Neve Jones, Ireland hooker. “It's just like having that 16th person on the pitch.”
Head coach Bemand will name his team today to play Italy with co-captain Sam Monaghan set to return after missing the game in France.
