'I can't wait': Parsons relishing opportunity to shine on Irish rugby's biggest stage

The Ireland women's team take on Scotland at the Aviva Stadium this weekend.

Wed, 13 May, 2026 - 01:00

Simon Lewis

Beibhinn Parsons has long visualised what it will be like when she finally takes the stage for Ireland at Aviva Stadium on Sunday, the in-form wing has seen it from all angles as a supporter of the men’s national team.

Those experiences have made her relish what is to come on Sunday in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations final-round clash with Scotland, and also embrace the opportunity in Ireland’s first standalone game at the Aviva to become “10 feet tall” rather shrink to that feeling of being just 10 inches.

Sitting in the stands one more time on Monday afternoon, the Ballinasloe flyer is eagerly awaiting her maiden appearance at the national stadium, and with 28,000 tickets already sold, the excitement is building within Scott Bemand’s squad that their historic moment will also be a record-breaking one for the Ireland Women’s team.

“I feel like I've sat in every segment there is,” Parsons said. “I've been here so many times supporting the lads. It's just phenomenal being sat here now, it's empty, but I can already envisage all the fans and everyone being here. I can't wait.

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“Honestly, it's one of those things that is beyond your wildest dreams that you don't even entertain it nearly. But I was actually here during the men's Six Nations and when I knew that this fixture was coming up for us, I just couldn't believe it.

“To picture myself being able to play here and be a part of that, I was like, wow, this is really going to be a massive day in an Irish jersey.”

From representing Ireland as a Sevens international at the Paris Olympics in 2024, and playing in the 2025 World Cup, the 24-year-old has learned to embrace the big occasion and this season’s Six Nations campaign has been full of them.

Ireland opened their schedule against world champions England in front of a tournament record crowd of 77,120 at Twickenham on April 11, then returned home to an Irish record crowd of 9,206 on landmark visit to Parson’s Connacht stamping ground at the newly redeveloped Dexcom Stadium.

There was also a trip to a raucous Stade Marcel-Michelin in Clermont to play the French and the Ireland wing said she is energised by the crowds and sense of occasion playing on such stages.

“Sometimes a big stadium can magnify your performance, and it can either make you feel 10 feet tall or make you feel 10 inches tall. But I think it's harnessing the energy in the stadium.

“I think at Dexcom, obviously, it’s smaller but the atmosphere was amazing. And I really feed off that. I love a crowd, and I love the energy that all of our fan base brings. So I just can't wait to see what Sunday will bring.”

If the Aviva has the same effect on Parsons as the Dexcom did, Ireland supporters will be in for a treat on their return to Dublin.

Parsons marked her international visit to her home pitch with a hat-trick in the 57-20 hammering of Italy in Galway.

“I've never felt more supported in my life,” she said of that day. “I felt like, oh my God, I've played in Dexcom like so many times as a kid and it just felt like running out like that again.

“But I think this Six Nations has been special. Starting off in Twickenham, that game in Clermont was absolutely massive, it was the loudest thing I've ever experienced.

“Dexcom, obviously, and now to be here. It's primed us well. We've played in big stadiums. We've played away from home, and now we're at home where everyone is rooting for us and wants to see us do our very best. So I think it's using that as well as you can.”