‘I think these are the games that you dream of, and you dream of winning. If you don’t want to go to Twickenham in a sellout stadium and go there and put on a show, then what do you want to do?”
These are the matter-of-fact words of winger Béibhinn Parsons from Ballinasloe, Co Galway, who can’t hide her excitement ahead of the first game of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations 2026 on 11 April.
It is the first day of Ireland camp, and the buzz inside the indoor astro pitch in the IRFU High Performance Centre in Blanchardstown is palpable. The air is thick with an almost giddy anticipation of what’s ahead.
She may be 24, but the Galway girl has been in the Ireland set-up since she was 16, making history as the youngest player to don the green jersey in a test match in 2018 against the USA. With 31 caps and 17 tries in the Six Nations to date, she admits the competition experience means more to her now than it ever has.
I think last year in the Six Nations, we showed how much this group has grown, and I think we''ve grown again since, so I’m just really excited to see what we can do
“I think as I’ve gotten older, I’ve actually, like, realised how much of a tradition [it is] and how much it means to me, and it actually gets more special as the years go on. I nearly get more nervous as the time goes on.
“I think people would think it would go the other way, but it just means so much to me, and I realise how much it means to my family. And every time that I play, they all come together.”
Béibhinn Parsons of Ireland scores her side's third try despite the efforts of Misaki Matsumura of Japan during the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025. \Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Female role models
Being an advocate for women’s sport, she’s also acutely aware of the impact these high-profile games can have on young girls, rugby and female sport in general.
“When I look around the dressing room, I’m like, why wouldn’t you want to know these women? Why wouldn’t they be role models for young girls? I think there are some phenomenal characters I get to train day in, day out with.”
Mentors, volunteers and the parents of youngsters encouraging young girls into rugby are other major influences.
“A lot of times I get asked if there were any barriers for me in rugby or as a woman in sport, but honestly, with the volunteers I had, there haven’t been. They didn’t treat us any differently. At times, I thought we were the only team in the club; we had that much support.
“The parents were just fantastic and so committed. When I was first on the Irish team at 16, I couldn’t drive, and my Mam or Dad would drop me to the gym in Galway city before school [at 5am].”
Since the World Cup, excitement around this team has been growing and Béibhinn is buzzing about the campaign ahead.
“I think last year in the Six Nations, we showed how much this group has grown, and I think we''ve grown again since, so I’m just really excited to see what we can do.”
Their second away game is in France, and after losing narrowly to them in the quarter-finals of the World Cup last autumn, she wants to go over and “really silence the crowd”.
Flying winger Béibhinn Parsons pictured in her Ireland kit ahead of the Women’s Six Nations Championship. Claire Nash
World Cup woes
The team had “regrets” about the World Cup clash, most of which “were within their control”, and they want to put them right, she acknowledges candidly.
“We definitely found it tough,” she says after the loss and the chance of making a historic semi-final. At the same time, this group is good at picking itself up and moving on, and 2029 is already being talked about by the young squad, the winger points out.
“I got a one-way ticket to Bali with a few of my friends,” the Blackrock College and Connacht player says of how she dealt with the defeat. “I needed to go out of the environment completely, switch up my schedule and feel like I really want to come back and train again… a sunny beach sorts out everything,” she jokes.
This year’s Six Nations campaign is set to have a number of major firsts that Bébhinn describes as “pinch me moments” that she could only have dreamed of. There’s a historic game in the new Dexcom Stadium in Galway v Italy on 18 April, and there’s already “a buzz around” the match given the strong Connacht representation in the squad.
Her family (her father Vincent, a doctor, hailing from a farming background in Mayo, and her mother, Evelyn, also a doctor and a county councillor) will be gathering with her siblings and relatives for the occasion.
The history-making nature of this year’s games is ramped up even further as the team will play the campaign finale in the Aviva Stadium for the first time – which she says is a massive vote of confidence in the group. On 17 May, they face Scotland.
“Given my time in the squad, I can really reflect and I would never have dreamt of playing in the Aviva or having these crowds that we get to play in front of. It wasn’t like that at all [at the start], and I never thought that would be my reality, so it’s amazing we have come so far.”
On where in the table Ireland will be coming into that big final game, Béibhinn is very clear in her ambitions. “I would love to be in contention for a top two spot in the Six Nations at that stage.”
Her first rugby memory is far from Lansdowne road. Aged around 10, she recalls being part of a mixed rugby team competing in the Community Games in Ballinasloe.
“It was just me and all boys. One of my distinct memories was getting off a bus and them all lining up in the hedge, going to pee. And I was like, ‘Oh, I really recognise the gender difference, you know,’ she remembers, laughing.
“I think it was my introduction into rugby. I just loved the whole camaraderie of it,” Béibhinn says, smiling broadly.
At that time, there were no girls’ rugby teams in Ballinasloe, and it would be several years later before they came along. In the interim, she was part of a particularly sporty cohort of girls who played football, camogie, soccer or anything going.
Aged 13 or 14, Béibhinn recalls her Dad’s friend setting up a girls’ team for U16 and U18 at Ballinasloe RFC, and she was sold straightaway.
“It was really massive from the off for us. We were actually really successful because we’d come from GAA or come from different things. I just really liked the vibe and the energy around it.”
Ireland winger Béibhinn Parsons photographed at Blanchardstown Sports Centre as preparations ramp up ahead of the Women’s Six Nations Championship. \ Claire Nash
One of those alongside her from the early days is Aoibheann O’Reilly, who hails from nearby Creagh, just across the border in Roscommon.
“It’s so good we have played at every stage together,” she enthuses, adding that they live together as well. “She’s one of my best friends. It’s great having someone on a journey with you from beginning to end.”
Given my time in the squad, I can really reflect and I would never have dreamt of playing in the Aviva or having these crowds that we get to play in front of
It hasn’t all been a bed of roses for Béibhinn, though, and 2024 was particularly trying for her, breaking her leg twice within the year. The first happened at the Paris Olympics during the Sevens tournament, and in a funny way, she says it made her realise how lucky she was up to that point not to experience a serious injury.
The second time was “completely different” and she really had to focus inward after experiencing “crazy emotions I had never felt before”, like feeling “ashamed, guilty and embarrassed” for putting friends and family through this again. Although the feelings were fleeting, Béibhinn acknowledges them and says it was a scary time.
On what she learned, she replies, “I really had to put things in place for myself to get the most out of the week. And one thing was, don’t feel sorry for yourself. You can spend so much wasted time feeling sorry for yourself. Another thing was treating the gym or my rehab like I would the pitch. You have to show up, and you have to show up with intensity and try to get better every day.
“I was really lucky to have such a good physio, and he took care of me like an athlete and a person, and I learned so much from working with him, and I came back way stronger. I came back faster, and a better person – more empathetic and a better athlete as well.
Ireland winger Béibhinn Parsons.\ Claire Nash
Living the life
Away from the oval ball, Béibhinn enjoys long walks, hikes, podcasts, coffee and chats with friends. She’s generally reading a book too; at present she’s enjoying The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. She loved Unravelling Oliver by Liz Nugent and is a fan of memoirs as well because she feels you get a real look into someone’s life. Educated by Tara Westover is another recommendation.
Perhaps she’ll do a book in the future, Irish Country Living proffers. “Maybe,” she says hesitantly, wondering aloud if she’s interesting enough.
In reality, the Ireland international is so happy “living the life” of a rugby professional that she doesn’t want it to think about what comes afterwards just yet.
‘I think these are the games that you dream of, and you dream of winning. If you don’t want to go to Twickenham in a sellout stadium and go there and put on a show, then what do you want to do?”
These are the matter-of-fact words of winger Béibhinn Parsons from Ballinasloe, Co Galway, who can’t hide her excitement ahead of the first game of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations 2026 on 11 April.
It is the first day of Ireland camp, and the buzz inside the indoor astro pitch in the IRFU High Performance Centre in Blanchardstown is palpable. The air is thick with an almost giddy anticipation of what’s ahead.
She may be 24, but the Galway girl has been in the Ireland set-up since she was 16, making history as the youngest player to don the green jersey in a test match in 2018 against the USA. With 31 caps and 17 tries in the Six Nations to date, she admits the competition experience means more to her now than it ever has.
I think last year in the Six Nations, we showed how much this group has grown, and I think we''ve grown again since, so I’m just really excited to see what we can do
“I think as I’ve gotten older, I’ve actually, like, realised how much of a tradition [it is] and how much it means to me, and it actually gets more special as the years go on. I nearly get more nervous as the time goes on.
“I think people would think it would go the other way, but it just means so much to me, and I realise how much it means to my family. And every time that I play, they all come together.”
Béibhinn Parsons of Ireland scores her side's third try despite the efforts of Misaki Matsumura of Japan during the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025. \Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Female role models
Being an advocate for women’s sport, she’s also acutely aware of the impact these high-profile games can have on young girls, rugby and female sport in general.
“When I look around the dressing room, I’m like, why wouldn’t you want to know these women? Why wouldn’t they be role models for young girls? I think there are some phenomenal characters I get to train day in, day out with.”
Mentors, volunteers and the parents of youngsters encouraging young girls into rugby are other major influences.
“A lot of times I get asked if there were any barriers for me in rugby or as a woman in sport, but honestly, with the volunteers I had, there haven’t been. They didn’t treat us any differently. At times, I thought we were the only team in the club; we had that much support.
“The parents were just fantastic and so committed. When I was first on the Irish team at 16, I couldn’t drive, and my Mam or Dad would drop me to the gym in Galway city before school [at 5am].”
Since the World Cup, excitement around this team has been growing and Béibhinn is buzzing about the campaign ahead.
“I think last year in the Six Nations, we showed how much this group has grown, and I think we''ve grown again since, so I’m just really excited to see what we can do.”
Their second away game is in France, and after losing narrowly to them in the quarter-finals of the World Cup last autumn, she wants to go over and “really silence the crowd”.
Flying winger Béibhinn Parsons pictured in her Ireland kit ahead of the Women’s Six Nations Championship. Claire Nash
World Cup woes
The team had “regrets” about the World Cup clash, most of which “were within their control”, and they want to put them right, she acknowledges candidly.
“We definitely found it tough,” she says after the loss and the chance of making a historic semi-final. At the same time, this group is good at picking itself up and moving on, and 2029 is already being talked about by the young squad, the winger points out.
“I got a one-way ticket to Bali with a few of my friends,” the Blackrock College and Connacht player says of how she dealt with the defeat. “I needed to go out of the environment completely, switch up my schedule and feel like I really want to come back and train again… a sunny beach sorts out everything,” she jokes.
This year’s Six Nations campaign is set to have a number of major firsts that Bébhinn describes as “pinch me moments” that she could only have dreamed of. There’s a historic game in the new Dexcom Stadium in Galway v Italy on 18 April, and there’s already “a buzz around” the match given the strong Connacht representation in the squad.
Her family (her father Vincent, a doctor, hailing from a farming background in Mayo, and her mother, Evelyn, also a doctor and a county councillor) will be gathering with her siblings and relatives for the occasion.
The history-making nature of this year’s games is ramped up even further as the team will play the campaign finale in the Aviva Stadium for the first time – which she says is a massive vote of confidence in the group. On 17 May, they face Scotland.
“Given my time in the squad, I can really reflect and I would never have dreamt of playing in the Aviva or having these crowds that we get to play in front of. It wasn’t like that at all [at the start], and I never thought that would be my reality, so it’s amazing we have come so far.”
On where in the table Ireland will be coming into that big final game, Béibhinn is very clear in her ambitions. “I would love to be in contention for a top two spot in the Six Nations at that stage.”
Her first rugby memory is far from Lansdowne road. Aged around 10, she recalls being part of a mixed rugby team competing in the Community Games in Ballinasloe.
“It was just me and all boys. One of my distinct memories was getting off a bus and them all lining up in the hedge, going to pee. And I was like, ‘Oh, I really recognise the gender difference, you know,’ she remembers, laughing.
“I think it was my introduction into rugby. I just loved the whole camaraderie of it,” Béibhinn says, smiling broadly.
At that time, there were no girls’ rugby teams in Ballinasloe, and it would be several years later before they came along. In the interim, she was part of a particularly sporty cohort of girls who played football, camogie, soccer or anything going.
Aged 13 or 14, Béibhinn recalls her Dad’s friend setting up a girls’ team for U16 and U18 at Ballinasloe RFC, and she was sold straightaway.
“It was really massive from the off for us. We were actually really successful because we’d come from GAA or come from different things. I just really liked the vibe and the energy around it.”
Ireland winger Béibhinn Parsons photographed at Blanchardstown Sports Centre as preparations ramp up ahead of the Women’s Six Nations Championship. \ Claire Nash
One of those alongside her from the early days is Aoibheann O’Reilly, who hails from nearby Creagh, just across the border in Roscommon.
“It’s so good we have played at every stage together,” she enthuses, adding that they live together as well. “She’s one of my best friends. It’s great having someone on a journey with you from beginning to end.”
Given my time in the squad, I can really reflect and I would never have dreamt of playing in the Aviva or having these crowds that we get to play in front of
It hasn’t all been a bed of roses for Béibhinn, though, and 2024 was particularly trying for her, breaking her leg twice within the year. The first happened at the Paris Olympics during the Sevens tournament, and in a funny way, she says it made her realise how lucky she was up to that point not to experience a serious injury.
The second time was “completely different” and she really had to focus inward after experiencing “crazy emotions I had never felt before”, like feeling “ashamed, guilty and embarrassed” for putting friends and family through this again. Although the feelings were fleeting, Béibhinn acknowledges them and says it was a scary time.
On what she learned, she replies, “I really had to put things in place for myself to get the most out of the week. And one thing was, don’t feel sorry for yourself. You can spend so much wasted time feeling sorry for yourself. Another thing was treating the gym or my rehab like I would the pitch. You have to show up, and you have to show up with intensity and try to get better every day.
“I was really lucky to have such a good physio, and he took care of me like an athlete and a person, and I learned so much from working with him, and I came back way stronger. I came back faster, and a better person – more empathetic and a better athlete as well.
Ireland winger Béibhinn Parsons.\ Claire Nash
Living the life
Away from the oval ball, Béibhinn enjoys long walks, hikes, podcasts, coffee and chats with friends. She’s generally reading a book too; at present she’s enjoying The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. She loved Unravelling Oliver by Liz Nugent and is a fan of memoirs as well because she feels you get a real look into someone’s life. Educated by Tara Westover is another recommendation.
Perhaps she’ll do a book in the future, Irish Country Living proffers. “Maybe,” she says hesitantly, wondering aloud if she’s interesting enough.
In reality, the Ireland international is so happy “living the life” of a rugby professional that she doesn’t want it to think about what comes afterwards just yet.
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