**Whether it’s international rugby or live broadcasting, nobody gets picked unless they’re good enough. Every team I’ve been on has been selected solely on merit.** It was no different when I was part of TG4’s all-female talent on their Round 7 Leinster v Cardiff Blues broadcast for the Guinness PRO14. Yes, it was historic to see an all-female team and we all felt great pride (and pressure!), but every person had proven they were right for the job. Quite rightly, TG4 has picked up a lot of positive attention and hopefully this is a step in the right direction towards a new normal, where fans get opinions, analysis and commentary from people who have the experience to provide the insights – regardless of gender. I can’t imagine what my young teenage self would have made of this. When I look back to that time in Ireland, I can only think of Sonia O’Sullivan competing at the Olympics as a role model for girls. Now, women’s international sports have such a greater platform and aspiring female athletes today have so many stars to look up to. Twenty years ago, there were very few Katie Taylors, Emily Scarratts, Serena Williams or Megan Rapinoes like we have today – people who have become household names. None of this happens overnight. Women’s sport and female athletes have moved out of the shadows and into the same arenas and stadiums as their male counterparts through support from clubs, sports organisations, broadcasters and sponsors.
