widespread acceptance of the game led to women's versions of other major rugby union tournaments (the women's five nations begins in 1999), and growing numbers of headlines. in 2000 the irish wrfu affiliated fully with the irfu—but there were still set-backs. in 2002 the australian rfu dropped support for the women's team's entry to the world cup. the decision was seen as a factor in ioc rejection of rugby as an olympic sport, and was reversed two years later.