It has been 51 days since Ireland hosted the Women's Rugby World Cup, but Ireland's campaign ended in disappointment as they failed to get out of a group which featured Australia and France.
Head coach Tom Tierney stood down from his position after his side lost 27-17 to Wales in the 7th/8th place playoff. The minimum expectation was that they would reach the semifinal but as reported after the tournament, problems behind the scenes leading into the tournament meant that expectation never came to fruition.
We are seven weeks on from the tournament and the IRFU are yet to replace Tierney as the head coach.
With the country hosting the World Cup the hope was that it would leave a lasting legacy amongst younger women and encourage a new generation to play the game but while we have taken one step forward in that respect, it would appear we have taken two steps back with the news that the IRFU are advertising the role of the women's head coach on a part-time basis.
The news has not been well received from commentators on the women's game:
Also frustrating comms strategy. If men's coaching role was changed this significantly, a union would pitch roll it. We have to ask.
— Scrumqueens - Women’s Rugby (@ScrumQueens) October 17, 2017
It was the best attended World Cup of all time, attracting 45,412 spectators. A peak of 2.65 million tuned in to ITV in the UK to watch the final - the largest single audience for a Women's Rugby World Cup final and almost half of the audience for the men's final in the UK at RWC 2015.
Questions will now be asked as to why instead of building on the huge success, that was hosting the Women's Rugby World Cup, that the IRFU decide to cut back resources for the women's game.
SEE ALSO: Quiz: Can You Name The Top 10 Try Scorers In European Rugby Cup History
