CLIODHNA MOLONEY will receive 100 percent support from Ireland captain Ciara Griffin and her teammates after Anthony Eddy, the IRFU director of women's and sevens rugby's comments this week.
Eddy batted away claims that the IRFU had neglected the women's 15s game in Ireland.
"The team was well prepared, I don't want to contaminate any findings from the review that's in place at the moment either, but I know the girls, the coaching staff, the girls themselves are disappointed not to have qualified [for the World Cup] and disappointed in their performances," he added.
Moloney responded to Eddy's comments, by saying "I could have sworn slurry spreading season was spring... I stand corrected. This comes a day before she starts hooker for Ireland against USA at the RDS on Friday.
Griffin and her teammates have since given Moloney their support.
"In rugby we aspire to do the right thing and endeavour not to be bystanders."
I support my teammates and admire those brave enough to make a stand. 💚
In doing this I am honouring the Spirit of Rugby composed by Irish Rugby.#shouldertoshoulder pic.twitter.com/riLQL1Qzt9— Anna Caplice (@bananacaplice) November 11, 2021
I support Cliodhna 100 per cent, we all do," said Griffin during a press conference on Thursday.
"This whole team backs Cliodhna and has her back. She is not alone. It’s really important that we get that across, that this group is very close-knit, it’s very tight, and we have Cliodhna’s back.
"We want to focus on this game as well but we have Cliodhna’s back and we support her. She’s very passionate about this game, we all are. We all want what’s best and to put our best foot forward. Cliodhna is not alone here, we all have her back.”
Asked if she was disappointed with Eddy's comments, Griffin said: “Yeah, I was. We all were.
"Anthony has addressed me in terms that he apologised in case people took offence to his comments, but the comments were made. We now need to focus on the game at hand, and then we'll look at the review process after that, and give our opinions there.
I've woken up this morning after a rare solid night's sleep...still absolutely enraged & upset by the few words we have seen from the IRFU Director of Women's Rugby Anthony Eddy.
What hope have we got of fixing anything if he won't acknowledge anything is even wrong?#EddyOut pic.twitter.com/1BrrclMRo0— IrishWomensRugbySupportersClub (@IrishWomens) November 9, 2021
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