A group of current and former Ireland women's rugby internationals have met with government ministers in relation to their concerns for the game. 

In a statement today, the group said they met with Minister Catherine Martin and Minister of State Jack Chambers, who both have responsibility for sport.

A group of players - including 62 former and current international - wrote to the Ministers recently to seek a meeting.

In that communication, they said they had lost all trust and confidence in the IRFU.

In their statement today, the four players involved - Ciara Griffin, Lindsay Peat, Claire Molloy and Cliodhna Moloney - said they look forward to the next steps in 2022.

"We want to thank Minister Catherine Martin and Minister of State Jack Chambers for taking the time to meet with us today," the statement read.

This was a very positive and constructive meeting at which we set out more detail around the challenges we addressed both in our letter last week and in the additional submission that a group of current players sent to those reviewing the women's game in Ireland.

"We now await the next steps in the process and look forward to making progress in the New Year.

"This has been a difficult time for many of us involved because none of us enjoy seeing women's rugby talked about for negative reasons.

"Ultimately we are a group of women who love the game of rugby and believe passionately that it is a brilliant sport for women and girls of all backgrounds, ages, shapes and sizes.

"It is a sport which has given us players so much and one we know that, if managed and directed well, has massive potential for growth and success around this country.

"Our aim is to persuade those who run the game in Ireland of this too.

"While the IRFU's initial response was disappointing, we are pleased it has since confirmed it will publish the two ongoing reviews.

"As we set out in our meeting today, any real change will need to be accompanied by a genuine culture change within the IRFU, from the top down, to one which listens to women, uses that insight to do things differently and one which understands that meaningful inclusion of women at every level will lead to a game which better serves everyone in Ireland.

"We know this process will take time.

"We also note that the IRFU's most recent statement to the media suggests better collaboration from the New Year with players and we welcome this.

"We want to be the last group of players who ever have to go through this and we feel hopeful that change for the better is more than possible."

The IRFU has already stated its intention to publish in full the findings of the two independent reviews currently being undertaken into the women's game.