'I think we're going to be back here next year' - Erin King confident of Aviva return

KING IN HER CASTLE: Ireland's Erin King celebrates after the match. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

Erin King is confident Ireland’s Guinness Women’s Six Nations schedule for 2027 will include a return visit to Aviva Stadium after her side delivered in spades in their first standalone game at the Dublin venue on Sunday.

Ireland blew Scotland away 54-5 in front of a home record 31,294 to secure third place in the final standings after claiming three victories in the championship for the first time since 2020.

Their two losses came at Twickenham and Stade Marcel-Michelin in Clermont, with England and France set to visit Ireland in 12 months on May 8 and April 17 respectively with at least one of those destined for the home of Irish Rugby.

The captain believes Ireland’s dominant victory over the Scots, underlined by a seven-try first half and 47-0 interval lead, has shown her side can deliver on the biggest stages, paving the way for a repeat event at the Aviva.

“We've talked for a few years about wanting to come and play here but wanting to come and make an occasion and come in and have bums on seats,” King said. “We got to do that today.

“And yeah, I think we're going to be back here next year. I don't know what game it's going to be for the moment. But I think we showed today that we can perform in high-pressure situations. There was a bit of pressure on us coming to the Aviva for the first time and we wanted to entertain people.

“We wanted to put in a performance and I think we can say that we went out and did that. So yeah, it would be great to come back here next year and hopefully put in another performance against one of those teams.” King, 22, marvelled at the young age profile of the Ireland squad as they build towards the 2029 World Cup.

“Our squad is so young, which is so exciting. The likes of Dannah O'Brien and Aoife Dalton, they're 22 and 23. Robyn (O’Connor) is only 20. Some of our star players are so young. Even Aoife Wafer.

“It's so exciting that we have got all these years ahead of us to get better and keep growing. We all love playing together, which is great as well. We're so lucky to have such talent coming through. There's even more people that I got to play with in the Celtic Challenge with that you haven't seen yet. Women's rugby in Ireland is in a really good place and it is only going up.”