New-look Ireland step out of the Six Nations shadows ahead of delayed campaign

New slot in calendar takes women's game away from behemoth that is the men’s Six Nations 

Sene Naoupu during Ireland women’s squad training at the Sport Ireland Campus, Blanchardstown, ahead of the Six Nations clash with Wales. Picture: Inpho/Ryan Byrne

A week later than their Women’s Six Nations pool rivals, Ireland finally get to step forward into what they hope will be a new era for their game when they face Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.

A revamped tournament structure, dividing the nations into two pools of three, looks set to be in place for this year only, an acknowledgment of these difficult times and the hasty rescheduling after the championship’s initial postponement in February and March. Yet there is genuine hope and expectation that this new April timeslot, if not the 2021 structure, is here to stay.