France have agreed to travel to Dublin next weekend in order to complete the final fixture in this season's women's Six Nations Championship.
The fixture had been in doubt as Adam Griggs' side are amateur players and would have been required to self-isolate for 14 days on their return from France under Irish government guidelines.
An isolation period is not needed for the French team and they're now set to waive home advantage and will instead make the trip to Ireland.
“We are extremely grateful to the French Federation and their Women’s Team for this superb act of solidarity with the Ireland women’s team," said IRFU CEO Philip Browne. "To experience such generosity of spirit is uplifting and goes to the very heart of what the sport of rugby, and the Six Nations, is all about.
“Over the past weeks, we were in regular contact with Sport Ireland and the Expert Group on Return to Sport regarding a possible derogation for the women’s national team from the established guidelines. With Ireland entering a Level 5 lockdown we fully accepted the decision not to grant a derogation on the travel restrictions for elite amateur athletes.
“I wish to thank the French Federation and their women’s Team on behalf of all involved in Irish Rugby for their decision. We now look forward to hosting the French Women’s XV and the fixture here in Dublin, and both teams can get back to concentrating on rugby.”
Ireland host Italy in their penultimate fixture at Donnybrook tomorrow evening.
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