Imagine it happening to the men. England Women’s Six Nations match against Scotland at Scotstoun in Glasgow fell foul of Storm Ciara two weeks ago.

The solution? Move the match the next day to Murrayfield, but play it behind closed doors, averting the difficulties of ­rearranging the fixture but also denying top sportswomen the right to play before a live crowd.

England secured a 53-0 victory in a blizzard. With the match on Sky, the freezing conditions and empty stands certainly got the women’s game noticed. Possibly, however, for the wrong reasons.

At least, though, the players had hot water afterwards. The weather was similarly savage at Energia Park at Donnybrook when Wales Women had to have freezing showers after their 31-12 defeat by Ireland.

Wales’ Robyn Wilkins was unimpressed. “We are all cold,” she said, with the stoicism women need to embrace to play the international game.

A wide-ranging investigation by The Daily Telegraph reveals problems with facilities and player equipment are widespread in the women’s game, this in what is supposed to be an elite international competition.

Players say they face:

A lack of sanitary bins in changing room bathrooms.

“Dingy”, “shabby” and, sometimes, dirty changing rooms partly because women’s matches are often played in older venues.

Being given only two shirts for the duration of the Six Nations.

Getting the wrong size shirts because of a shortage.

Being given men’s tracksuits which they find uncomfortable as they are not cut for a woman’s bust or hips.

Remarks on their use of make-up in performance reviews.

A lower standard of food provision than their male counterparts.

All claims were made anonymously to The Telegraph because players, coaches and others involved in the women’s game fear they might be made scapegoats for speaking out.

One international said: “To me, it is not shocking not to have bins for sanitary waste because it is what we are used to. It only came home to me when I was on my period and I was trying to get rid of a tampon. Because there wasn’t a bin in the loo, I got blood on my shorts. Most of the countries in the Six Nations play in white shorts, so I can hardly be the first woman for this to happen to.