To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Not now
OK
Advert
Advert
Advert

Ireland women's rugby team request to wear dark shorts over period anxieties

Max Sherry

Published 
| Last updated 

Ireland women's rugby team request to wear dark shorts over period anxieties

Members of the Ireland women's rugby team have requested to switch to dark shorts over concerns about period anxieties.

In response, team officials have agreed to dropping the white shorts altogether in what can only be seen as a landmark move for women's sport.

More and more high-profile female athletes have opened up about the fears surrounding their periods – particularly during competition time.

From impacting your overall mental state to the concern that blood could show up on sports uniforms, these are all things that women have had to deal with for a long, long time.

Advert

But unfortunately, for whatever reason, only recently has the conversation made its way into mainstream media and onto peoples' radars.

Now, in a huge boost for female athletes across the world, the Irish women's rugby team has confirmed they will be making a permanent switch from white to navy shorts in response to the players’ calls.

Credit: Alamy
Credit: Alamy

"The top way to ensure we perform to our best on the field is by removing any unnecessary distractions," Ireland international Enya Breen said.

Advert

"Wearing navy shorts instead of white is such a small thing, but for us it's a big step from [kit supplier] Canterbury and the IRFU.

"Our hope is that it will help women at all levels of rugby feel more comfortable on the field so they can get on with performing at their best in the game that they love."

But this move isn't just happening at the elite level, it seems.

The IRFU has confirmed that kit supplier Canterbury will also be offering amateur, semi-pro and professional teams who initially bought white shorts the chance to exchange them for a pair of a different colour.

Advert

As for the Ireland rugby team, it's understood their navy shorts will be debuted against Wales in their opening game of the Women's Six Nations.

Credit: Alamy
Credit: Alamy

Athletes from other sports have also held similar period fears.

Only last year, Wimbledon announced it would be relaxing its strict all-white dress code to accomodate to women who were going through their menstrual cycle.

Advert

Football clubs also got involved, most notably West Bromwich Albion, who became one of the first teams to change their kit altogether to remove white shorts for their women's team.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Ireland, Rugby, Rugby Union

Max Sherry
More like this
Advert
Advert
Advert

Chosen for YouChosen for You

Football

Man City and Premier League 'agree date for trial' over 115 FFP charges

22 minutes ago

Most Read StoriesMost Read

What do Man Utd need to do to qualify for Champions League knockouts after Galatasaray draw

16 hours ago