“It’s Exciting For Them” – Matt Brown Looks Ahead To Women’s Interpros

The countdown to this year’s Senior Women’s and U18 Women’s Interprovincial Championships is underway with both Munster squads training hard for the respective competitions which make a welcome return this year.

Due to Covid-19, the 2020 edition was cancelled but the competition will return on August 28th and will run on three consecutive weekends as a precursor to the revamped Women’s All Ireland League.

Munster Senior Women’s head coach Matt Brown believes it is an exciting time for the group with plenty of opportunities on offer.

“It’s exciting the fact that there are Interpros to look forward to and with World Cup qualifiers coming up for the Ireland team, there are a lot of spaces available for girls who haven’t been in the programme before,” Brown said.

“It’s exciting for them and it’s exciting for us to see what they can do.”

The coaching and management teams for the Munster Senior Women and U18 Women squads have been confirmed ahead of the 2021 #WomensInterpros ⤵️#MunsterWomen #WRugby #SUAF 🔴

— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) July 5, 2021

Brown, who has extensive coaching experience with Old Crescent and Crescent College Comprehensive in addition to Galwegians, Clanwilliam, Railway Union, Old Wesley and Munster U18 Women, provides an overview of the work that has taken place with the wider group over the last number of weeks.

“For the first four-week block when we were allowed back training last month, it was mainly skills-based and we had a Cork base and a Limerick base.

“We had coaches in each centre working on skill development with around 60 players starting off. Now we’ve come to the second block and we’re working towards a trial and a reduced squad of 30-35 for the Interpros.

“Everything is based in Thomond Park because we have the facility and the gym there and it’s important that we are all in one place and it happens to be where most of the players are based.”

The Munster U18 Women side were crowned interprovincial champions in 2019 and Brown says that those title-winning players will be considered for the senior side while outlining the importance of continuity between U18s and adult rugby.

Munster U18 Women celebrate winning the interprovincial championship in 2019 ©INPHO

“In recent years the U18s programme in Munster has really taken off so we have had the opportunity to take a look at those players who have come through that. So the plan is to take a look at them and see if they are ready for adult rugby.

“We were working together last year before the Interpros were cancelled. Willie (Shubart) is working permanently in the Women’s game, Mike (Storey) has loads of experience between Shannon and UL Bohs Ladies and Niamh Briggs obviously her background speaks for itself. She’s also played with and coached a lot of the players previously.

“I’d be in contact with Fiona Hayes a good bit and I coached the U18s a few years ago too and I think it’s really important that as the women’s game grows, there’s more continuity from younger to older so it’s all positive really from that regard.”

Click here for details on the coaching teams for both the Senior Women and U18 Women sides ahead of the interprovincial championships which begin in August.