Ireland's Rising Momentum in Women's Rugby

Centre Eve Higgins has expressed the Irish squad's growing confidence as they prepare for their Women's Six Nations opener against France in Belfast. Under head coach Scott Bemand, Ireland has shown remarkable progress, including a third-place finish in last year's tournament and qualification for the Rugby World Cup.

Key Achievements Fueling Belief

• Victory over Australia in Belfast
• Historic win against New Zealand in WXV1 (Vancouver)

"These results have instilled huge belief in our squad," Higgins stated. "We're all excited to build on last year's performance in this Six Nations."

Tactical Preparation Against France

Ireland had the opportunity to train against France, led by star scrum-half Pauline Bourdon Sansus, ahead of their famous win over New Zealand. France finished second in last year's Six Nations after a tight final-round loss to England.

"Our heaviest training session before the New Zealand game was against France," revealed the 25-year-old Higgins. "This gave us valuable experience against their power game and star players."

Six Nations Fixture Outlook

Ireland's tournament schedule:

1. Opener vs France (home)
2. Away match against Italy
3. Home game vs England
4. Closing matches away to Wales and Scotland

With a mix of home advantage and challenging away fixtures, Ireland aims to continue their upward trajectory in women's rugby.

Rising Stars to Watch

Keep an eye on:

• Eve Higgins (centre)
• Pauline Bourdon Sansus (France scrum-half)

The team's recent successes demonstrate their potential to challenge the traditional powerhouses of women's rugby in this year's Six Nations.