Reilly hopes Japan visit another step for western rugby

Reilly also sees Ireland’s return to Galway as an opportunity to strengthen the game across the west,

Aoibheann Reilly at the IRFU High Performance Centre, Dublin. Pic ©INPHO/Nick Elliott

It was a case of so near and yet so far for Aoibheann Reilly when Ireland made an historic return to her own province earlier this year, but she will park that disappointment when she starts for her country against Japan in Galway tomorrow (12.45pm).

The redevelopment of Connacht's Sportsground and conversion to the Dexcom Stadium prompted the IRFU to fix the Six Nations game against Italy for the venue, the first women's Test in the west since the victory over Canada there 20 years earlier.