Laura Feely: 'It wasn’t ideal, falling asleep on the bus before your first cap'

Laura Feely: ‘I hope we continue to show where we’re at this weekend against strong opposition in France.’ Picture: Ryan Byrne

Laura Feely has come a long way since falling asleep on the Ireland bus on the way to her Test debut against France three years ago. And the prop believes the Irish have progressed enough since then to surprise those who believe the gap to the French is only getting wider.

Feely, 29, could make her 18th test appearance at Energia Park today if she comes off the bench against France in the delayed and truncated 2021 Women’s Six Nations. The significance is that those caps mean the Donegal-born Blackrock and Connacht front-rower has featured in every selection made by head coach Adam Griggs since he took over a team on the ropes following the disappointments of the 2017 World Cup.