Former England rugby player turned TV pundit Maggie Alphonsi says 'women shouldn't have to accept inequalities' in the Six Nations.

Alphonsi highlighted two issues from this year's tournament - first when the Welsh team faced cold showers after their match against Ireland and then the freezing conditions Scotland and England had to play in at Murrayfield.

Alphonsi say the men wouldn't be treated similarly.

"After Ireland’s win over Wales, Wales were forced to have cold showers after the game due to an issue with the water heater at Donnybrook. That led to a public outcry, and rightly so. 

"The women’s game deserves better. Cold showers for the opposition would have no way happened in the men’s game. Additionally, England having played in the snow on Monday, and were visibly freezing on the pitch, were then treated to a mammoth coach trip home. Not great rest and recovery for those athletes.

"The women should not have to accept these inequalities," she wrote on her website.

Alphonsi added that having women's games on separate days to men could improve conditions for the players.

"I know things are improving - I remember playing some of our international Six Nations matches in places I wouldn’t even expect a low-level club team to play at.

"But back then it was accepted, and we didn’t really have a voice/ platform, but now we do. 

"I believe the women’s games should be played in quality stadiums and if the games were to be played on a different day to the men’s games, it could open up the opportunity to play at better venues and get more media coverage."

The next round of the Six Nations is taking place on Sunday.