A Statement Win, a Statement Venue: Ireland Women Belong at the Aviva

Because Ireland’s first ever standalone women’s international at the Aviva Stadium was a system’s success. The players met the moment with a sensational first half performance in a 54-5 victory and the audience held up their end of the bargain with a record-breaking attendance of 31,294.

Playing at the Aviva Stadium for Ireland needs to become at least a yearly rather than occasional event.

This was like a gateway game. I have never seen as many kids at an international rugby match - or any kind of game for that matter - as there were for this finale. And walking to the ground before the game, it was heartening to see groups of girls walk to the stadium together. This is the ripple effect that can’t be understated. Aoife Wafer spoke in the build-up to this game how she was a 10-year-old girl watching in the stands for the only other time the Ireland women’s team played at the Aviva Stadium as part of a double bill in 2014. She saw her own future that day.

I wonder how many other young Aoife Wafers came away inspired by what they saw?

And Ireland were inspiring. There was a sense that they were building towards delivering an exciting conclusion and they did that by playing an attractive brand of rugby that is so entertaining to watch. And they’ve got star players that supporters are drawn to. One of the biggest roars of the day was the try Aoife Wafer scored before half-time. Robyn O’Connor made that excellent break up the pitch and Wafer finished the move with a brilliant swan-dive over the try-line.

I’ve seen that moment in so many photographs since, it was like the signature snapshot of that day. And they are the kind of entertaining moments that supporters – especially the new ones who were attending a rugby game for the first time - might remember for a long time.

It felt like a day when the home of Irish rugby really became the home of Irish rugby. The new generation of fans need to see that women also play on the biggest stage, that this isn’t a place reserved for the talent of men. There is a big-time vibe off the Aviva Stadium, just the whole production of the ground. There are many reasons why the Ireland women’s team need to return there.

Erin King said it herself after. What a finish it was for her in her first season as Ireland captain, to lead out the team for this historic occasion and to be presented with the new Siobhan Cattigan Trophy was a special moment for this team. It was an inspired choice by head coach Scott Bemand to name her as the new captain and for such a young player, she’s only 22, she handled all the duties around the game magnificently. When she was asked if Ireland will play at the Aviva Stadium again, she gave a strong indication that they will.

“I think we're going to be back here next year. I don't know what game it's going to be for the moment,” said King. “I think we showed that we can perform in high-pressure situations. There was a bit of pressure on us coming to the Aviva for the first time and we wanted to entertain people.

“We wanted to put in a performance and I think we can say that we went out and did that. So yeah, it would be great to come back here next year and hopefully put in another performance against one of them teams.”

The IRFU have yet to confirm the venues but it seems that the working plan is for Ireland’s game with world champions England in the Women’s Six Nations in May next year to take place at the Aviva. The Red Roses will bring their loyal support to Dublin. And it looks like next year’s game with France is being lined up for the Dexcom Stadium, Galway which was an excellent venue for Ireland’s game with Italy this year.

The figures show this was a ground-breaking championship. From the record-breaking attendance for a Women’s Six Nations game in Ireland’s opener with world champions England at Twickenham (77,120) in round one, to the short-lived Irish home record at the Dexcom Stadium (9,206) against Italy in round 2 to the sell-out crowd at Stade Marcel-Michelin (17,000) last month which was the best atmosphere I’ve ever experienced at a women’s rugby international.

And the way Ireland play is reflected in that upward trajectory. A lot of the players were in the form of their lives in this Six Nations. Wafer and King are generational talents but even a player like Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald – who won her 50th cap in round one in a game when she played against her wife, Claudia – has been playing the rugby of her life. While Robyn O’Connor, who made her debut against Italy and kept her place on the wing since then, was one of four new faces who made their international debuts.

This Irish team are far from the finished article, Scott Bemand admitted that after the game. Which makes it all the most exciting about what the future will bring.