Sene Naoupu says it was crucial to the Irish women's team that their jersey and crest were changed to match their male counterparts.
Until this recent Canterbury launch, the senior women's had the same design as male underage shirts - with 'women' stitched under the crest.
Now, however, the senior jerseys are the same and experienced Ireland centre Naoupu commented: "It's everything, isn't it? It's our archetype.
"The jersey is our archetype, it's what it means, the crest is what it means - and to have it on that side of the jersey is something that we all work extremely hard to represent."
Naopu said that the change was necessary to symbolise parity of esteem.
"We're the same family in Irish rugby," she stressed.
"It's (about) equal opportunity for the girls and women in sport - and certainly in rugby. And this is a positive step in the right direction.
"Ultimately the jersey is our archetype, what we play for and what we represent."
The 36-year-old Leinster and Ireland star had an MRI scan in February - as a consequence of a double knock that she suffered in the championship defeat to England.
She subsequently learned she had a tumour in her neck but she participated in the national squad's first get-together at Abbotstown at the end of August and has been working her way back to full fitness, with the hope of being involved in the final Six Nations games against Italy and France.
After that, the situation is now unclear after it was announced yesterday that the final European qualifiers for World Cup, which were scheduled for December, have been shelved until next year. Asked if she could start this weekend against the Italians, Naoupu replied: Still waiting.
"Thank God I'm feeling good. Week by week, I'm pleased with how things have been progressing
"I've been building well and I'm pretty happy with where I'm at.
"We've been training for a number of weeks now and have had live games against each other, controlled live games, which have been positive actually, to be honest.
"It's been important for us to monitor how we were coming back into contact, so it's been positive in terms of what we needed to get out of the training games.
"France are incredibly tough, and to have Italy at home is a positive start to the Six Nations, it's a chance to really test where we're at.
"So for the squad that is selected it will be really interesting to see how we go and how we execute certain things."
Obviously it's a boost to have skipper Claire Molloy back after she took a sabbatical from Test rugby in August of last year to continue her training in emergency medicine.
“To have a player like Claire Molloy, who is world-class, her experience in any squad, adds massive value. It's been phenomenal having her back.”
Furthermore Adam Griggs' squad is also greatly enhanced by another top player returning - Beibhinn Parsons wouldn't have played another Six Nations game this year had the lockdown not occurred.
The teenager was in scintillating form, scoring tries against Scotland and Wales, before she ended her involvement in the spring to concentrate on her Leaving Cert studies
“Beibhinn Parsons is fantastic to have in your team, both on and off the pitch," acknowledged Naoupu.
“For her in her position, she obviously offers something different. But she is still developing. We have to remember she is still very young.
“There are still plenty of exciting things to come from her but she is an extremely hard-working player.
"She works hard at her graft and being so young, it's probably a sign of the times that the younger generation coming through is aspiring to be an international player. It's really exciting to see. Beibhinn is a fantastic player.
To perform the way she does at that level, at the age that she does, it's obviously a promising start to an international career for someone like her who works so hard as well.
"A winger relies on out and out speed, and it's probably testament to someone like Alison Miller to be able to sustain such a long career at international level over a number of years.
"She's a fantastic talent and time will tell if she moves closer in position-wise, but it's a question for the coaches on whatever team she is on.
"I'm also quite proud that she is from a rural area, Ballinasloe. She is from the west of Ireland and made in Connacht, so she comes from a non-traditional area.
“All that stuff is pleasing to see because what other Beibhinn Parsons are out there that we don't know about. It's an exciting time for the squad to have those types of players involved".
Guinness teamed up with Sene Naoupu and Brian O’Driscoll to announce a partnership with Canterbury, Intersport Elverys and the IRFU in support of the sale of the newly released Irish Women’s Rugby team jerseys across its retail sites
