New Ireland women's coach Bemand seeking harmony over Sevens crux

Ireland Women's Rugby Head Coach Scott Bemand.

New Ireland head coach Scott Bemand and joint captain Edel McMahon have underlined both the importance of a good Women's Six Nations to secure World Cup qualification - and the key role of Sevens players in achieving that.

The Irish squad, who begin their campaign on Saturday week in France, have added five players from the Sevens programme and Bemand says access to the 7s girls "will be important going forward."

At the tournament launch in London on Wednesday, Bemand said: "They’re great people, they add a lot to the environment as well."  On the involvement or not of Sevens players other than the returning quintet - Beibhinn Parsons, Eve Higgins, Aoibheann Reilly, Claire Boles and Katie Heffernan  Bemand admits it's an issue that is often calendar dependent.

“There’s a strategic goal to do well in the Olympics, there’s a strategic goal to get to the World Cup. We’ve got some 7s girls in for the Six Nations which will be a continued big part of our pool of players. In Ireland the playing numbers are what they are. The talent pool is what it is at this point and we’re going to continue to try and grow that.

“Other nations have done it quite successfully, look at New Zealand for example in the last World Cup, some of the 7s girls coming back into the 15s programme then going back to the 7s. So, it can be done. We have a great relationship with Allan Temple-Jones, we’ve worked in harmony with him to achieve stuff in both events. Having access to the 7s girls going into the Six Nations will be important for us going forward. I think as we get more seamless with those transitions, things will come smoother and smoother,” said Bemand.

He continued: “I think where the game is in terms of playing numbers, that may even be some years off still. The challenge we must embrace is to get better at transitioning, and to get both programmes succeeding. Ultimately if we are successful at the Olympics and the World Cup that’s going to shine a great spotlight on women’s rugby in Ireland. It’s going to get more interest and attraction which will hopefully spur the game on.” 

On the IRFU contracts. he explained: “There are currently 43 contracts, which is a merge of the 7s and the 15s. They got that going not too long ago, so in terms of the cycles, it's in its first iteration. There’s real intent to grow that so post-Six Nations we’ll review it, see where we stand with it, see which players are in the room, who’s developing, who’s progressing, what other players are coming onto the market. Celtic Challenge has shown a lot of young talent coming through and there are definitely some girls that have put a strong hand up for a contract. So, it’s exciting to see where that is going. It’s real proactivity from the IRFU’s perspective which is great to see. It was honestly one of the sells when I was looking at taking the job in the first place."

Bemand, the England women’s attack coach until April last year, has said being on a different side for this Six Nations has been ‘really exciting, a new challenge’.

“Obviously we’re not shying away from what happened in the last Six Nations but we’ve come together, we’ve played some WXV, we’ve built some winning momentum, built some connections and now we’re just excited about getting started.” 

Despite a disappointing Six Nations campaign last year, captain McMahon is more optimistic this time around.

“I was injured for the last campaign so my mindset is a little bit different but a lot of girls have grown since that campaign to be quite senior players, the likes of Aoife Dalton and Dannah O’Brien, two Old Belvedere girls. In general, the girls have stepped it up having had a successful WXV campaign, the Celtic Challenge too, I think those recent performances have just got us more excited to get started in this Six Nations.

On the goals for this campaign, McMahon was short and succinct: “Qualify for the World Cup, simple as that. The next best team outside England and France will more than likely qualify so if we finish third that will hopefully be enough to do it. We’ve spoken as a squad and that is what we are desperate to achieve, World Cup qualification. That is so important for us.” 

The France game will be a stern opening test of where Ireland are at, with a vocal strong support backing one of the two tournament hot-shots.

“I got to play there two years ago in Toulouse but we chatted a lot about that, about blocking out the noise, and focusing on the task at hand. The best way to shut it up is by scoring a try. We just have to do our best to get our own contingent going. I find that once we’re focused it all becomes background noise anyway, but it does help then when you’re on the front foot and your own crowd is with you. Ultimately, it’s all an experience to relish.”