Sir, – Sadly it comes as no great surprise to me to read the incredible lengths to which the Irish ladies’ rugby team had to go just to play against their French opposition on February 11th (Jeannette Feighery, February 15th). Their dedication and extreme talent is acknowledged in Eithne Darcy’s letter (February 20th). However, unlike Ms Feighery, I cannot thank or compliment the coverage of women’s sport from any media source.
For a very long time I have been trying to find some acknowledgment of any female sporting events in your paper and others. Unless you are a world class competitor or a potential Olympic medallist, sadly the coverage of any female competitions is relegated to a small paragraph in the sports supplement. Don’t get me wrong, I love all sports but beg for equal recognition, and a level playing pitch from the media. Why is that we know of every groin strain or back-ache of our male rugby team, yet I cannot name one female rugby international?
It is only when the media start to give equal, or at the very least 25 per cent of their coverage to female sporting competitions that potential sponsors will come on board. Then, and only then will our female athletes be spared the indignities of a repeat of what happened in Pau. We deserve better. It is the 21st century after all. – Yours, etc,