Connacht's women players have demanded an IRFU investigation into the 'disgraceful' changing area they used at Energia Park last Saturday.
The IRFU and Leinster Rugby issued an apology for an 'unacceptable error' after Connacht and Ulster players changed into their gear beside bins and with rats nearby.
It was later explained that Leinster's match day operation staff were not on site by the time the changing facilities had been set up and the IRFU said it had launched an internal review.
However Leinster and Ireland star Garry Ringrose added his voice to the chorus of disapproval today and, following reports that the players had been asked not to speak out, the Connacht squad issued a statement today.
“We are very disappointed and upset by the facilities that were provided for us to change both pre and post-match and for our post-match meal," began the statement.
"The location was not suitable for the purpose.
“We pride ourselves on representing Connacht Rugby in a professional manner both on and off the pitch.
"We did our best to perform on the day, despite this situation, but these circumstances were far from the standards we would expect for this level of our sport.
“We acknowledge the apology issued by the IRFU and Leinster Rugby earlier this week. We sincerely hope that something like this will never happen again, for any team.
“We would request that a review of the decision-making process which led to these circumstances be conducted and our hope is that more thought will go into decisions like this for the women’s game in the future.”
“We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the support we have received from Connacht Rugby this season. We are all working together to improve Women’s rugby in the province and throughout Ireland.
“We believe that every province is doing the same.
"Great progress has been made this season with all the women’s Inter-pro games televised by TG4 and Vodafone coming on board as a sponsor of the series is a massive step in the right direction.
“However, the circumstances on Saturday highlight there is still much work to be done.
“More young girls got to see women's rugby on TG4 over the last three weeks and hopefully we have inspired them to take up the game and fall in love with the sport that we love.”
Speaking earlier this afternoon, Ringrose commented: “I actually saw a video of it on Instagram and it is obviously pretty ridiculous and there was clearly a massive mix-up.
"But I can’t imagine it is a mistake that should ever be made again.
"I don’t really know the ins and outs of it other than that it was a massive mistake and one that shouldn’t have happened but one that, as I said, shouldn’t happen again.”
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