Brilliant news.

Former international Mike Ross has been appointed as scrum coach to the Ireland women’s squad for the duration of their upcoming Six Nations campaign, which begins against France in Toulouse on Saturday February 3.

His appointment comes as a significant boost for the women’s 15-a-side squad, whose confidence is extremely low following a disastrous World Cup campaign on home soil last summer. This was compounded further when the IRFU decided to advertise for a head coach who would succeed Tom Tierney merely on a part-time basis.

Ross has won two Six Nations titles with Ireland and represented his country twice at the Rugby World Cup. He made 151 appearances for Leinster and is one of the greatest scrummagers Ireland has ever produced.

Speaking following the appointment, Ross reckons Ireland men’s scrum coach Greg Feek put his name forward for the role.

Anthony Eddy (the IRFU’s director of women’s rugby) approached me about helping out, though I suspect that Greg Feek may have put my name forward. I’m really looking forward to getting involved.” Ross said

Ross is also a player-coach for Malahide, and has reportedly been doing some work with the Leinster academy.