Beibhinn Parsons: 'It was the ultimate year of sport for me'

Michael Bolton

Ireland winger Beibhinn Parsons says Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has brought clarity to the women's team after a successful 2024.

Bemand came into the side following Ireland missing out on qualification for the 2022 Rugby World Cup, and finishing bottom of the Six Nations in 2023.

However, in 2024, Ireland finished third in the Six Nations, securing qualification for the World Cup in England next summer, and defeated New Zealand in October in the WXV 1 series.

Looking back on the year, Parsons said Bemand has brought clarity to the side which she claims has always had the talent

"We always had such raw talent, and I think with the new coaching staff we have had so much clarity", says Parsons.

"Scott has put such an emphasis on training identity and competition in training, so we are building depth and people have to really fight for their position and that drives standards.

"It is like a snowball, it has just got bigger and bigger. We kicked off with WXV in tier 3 with Scott, and now in just his third campaign, we are able to fight with the big dogs.

"It all happened really quickly, but the raw talent was always there, and now we have so much clarity, direction and competition, it is all coming along quite quickly."

It has been quite the turn of fortunes for this Irish side, who suffered the heartbreak of being knocked out of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup .

Parsons, who has been involved with Ireland since her teenage years, said this was the lowest moment of her career.

"Parma for me sticks out, it was probably the sorest part of my career. Really having such high expectations to compete in a World Cup in New Zealand and then for it not to happen.

"It took a long time, you nearly need to grieve it. But now, those bitter moments come into play when you do achieve them, it makes is so much sweeter.

"I wouldn't change anything for the world, and I think I learned as much from those losses and tough moments as you do from the great days. It is all part of sleep."

2024 was also the year Parsons became an Olympian, as she was part of the women's sevens team which competed in Paris.

Currently recovering from an injury picked up in the quarter-final defeat to Australia, Parsons says she will be fit for the Six Nations, and will be stepping her recovery in the coming weeks.

While it was difficult to juggle her Olympic dream alongside the 15s, Parsons is grateful for the opportunities she has been given.

"Balancing both was extremely demanding, but even more than demanding was really rewarding. Being one of the privileged players that get to play both codes, it's very rare.

"Now more girls are able to play both codes, but at the time it was really rare, it just felt like such a privilege.

"To go on to the Olympics and be part of such a major sporting event, it was ultimate year of sport for me, broken leg and all."