‘It’s a privilege to play for both’: Versatile Béibhinn Parsons targets success with Ireland and Sevens

If there has been a schism between the 15s and Sevens players previously, there’s evidently none now. Indeed, Béibhinn Parsons, Eve Higgins and Aoibheann Reilly – who were all part of Ireland’s historic first Sevens title success in Perth last month – will remain with the Ireland squad for the duration of the Six Nations.

Admittedly, the only Sevens tournament during the Six Nations is in Hong Kong on the first weekend in April, which comes between Ireland’s home games against Italy at the RDS on Sunday and Wales at Musgrave Park on Saturday, April 13th.

Even so, confirmation that the Sevens players included in Scott Bemand’s squad will remain in situ for the Six Nations ensures no disruption.

Higgins assuming the captaincy against France last Saturday in Le Mans for the last half-hour after Edel McMahon had been replaced was a strong indication that this was how things would pan out.

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“We’ll be staying with the 15s team,” Parsons told the media on Wednesday, adding: “We got into a Sevens training session yesterday just to keep it ticking. So, there’s still a bit of crossover and the communication is really good between both codes. But for now, we’ll be sticking in the Six Nations.”

If any player in the squad has the credentials to be something of a rock star it is Parsons, given her speed, strength, footwork, strike rate and ability to just spread a little star dust since becoming the youngest player, man or woman, to play for Ireland when making her Test debut at 16, six years ago, and setting the tone by nearly scoring a stunning try with her first touch. But she doesn’t act or behave like the first cousin of a rock star.

By all accounts, the 22-year-old is an innately good-humoured, polite and friendly person with an assiduous attention to detail which, according to one source, would make Josh van der Flier an equivalent in the men’s squad, albeit with a glint in her eye.

[ Ireland call on Béibhinn Parsons among Sevens players available for Six Nations squad ]

When Neve Jones was asked about Parsons this week, revealingly the hooker immediately responded: “She’s lovely.”

“She’s very kind, she’s very bubbly,” said Jones, before revealing: “I know that she likes to take a nap every now and then, so she gets her sleep. But if she needs her sleep to get her speed, we’ll let her have her naps whenever she needs. Yeah, she’s really a lovely person and everyone just loves having her around.”

The way Parsons described it, the decision to marry the two codes and play both the WXV 3 in Dubai last September and this Six Nations in tandem with her Sevens commitments was instigated by both sides.

“I started off in 15s, so I was more than delighted to come back to the squad with a new coaching set-up and everything. It’s been such a privilege to play across both codes. It sort of fell into place, and with the WXV I got a real good understanding of the game model and now coming back it’s been seamless. I’m really well looked after. So, it’s been really good.”

Antoine Dupont may well make the crossover seamless at this summer’s Olympics, but they are essentially very different games.

“Well, the kicking game is massive in 15s. It’s completely different in Sevens. We were playing a territory game and our 10s and our backfield really stuck to our game model,” Parsons said of Ireland’s tactical approach against France in Le Mans last Saturday. “In turn, I actually didn’t get too much ball, so hopefully I’ll get my hands on a bit more ball this weekend.

“It’s definitely different. You don’t get as many one-on-one opportunities but when you do, they’re like gold dust, so you really have to take those opportunities,” admitted Parsons, who must love the greater space in Sevens, and which in turn must have made returning to the 15-a-side game feel very congested.

Then there is the stark contrast in format and, by extension, the high intensity of Sevens, which places a greater emphasis on anaerobic fitness.

“In Sevens you are playing six games across a weekend, whereas in 15s you are taking a full week to lead up to one game. So, there are a lot of cogs turning for 15s and in Sevens the physical demands are through the roof. It’s quite obvious the differences. One is much more high-paced and the other is more strategic.”

All the while, the prospect of representing Ireland in the Olympics this summer in Paris.

“It’s incredible. It’s a really pinch-me moment but it’s hard to think too far ahead because we have Madrid coming up and that’s still a massive competition. The girls have Hong Kong and Singapore, so there’s still a lot of work to be done before we get there.

“Our win in Perth shows that on our day we can do it against anyone, but we just need to be a lot more consistent. We want to go into that Paris Olympics being competitors, but there’s a lot of work to do still.”

Asked if she has a preference, quick as a flash Parsons responded: “It’s like choosing a favourite child. I couldn’t tell you.”

Similarly, when asked if she missed the Six Nations last year, Parsons struck an equally swift and diplomatic note. “If I could be in two places at once, I would love to do that. But it was such a really important year for us in the Sevens and we got our goal over the line of qualifying for the Olympics, so mission was accomplished. If I could be in two places at once, of course.”

Make that three places really, for somehow Parsons is managing to combine Sevens and 15s with studying for a degree in biomedical, health and life sciences.

“The studies are ticking away. DCU have been a massive help, they are honestly incredible. You do get a bit of downtime here and there and you can get your assignments in. You just have to keep on top of it.”

Accolades and fame have clearly never remotely gone to her head, and she has never forgotten her roots. Besides, every time Ireland play, the presence of Reilly and Méabh Deely alongside Parsons is a reminder of the grounding they all received from the progressive Ballinasloe RFC club.

It was a stroke of fortune for Irish women’s rugby too, for Parsons’s father Vincent (a doctor) was her Gaelic football coach. Her mother Evelyn also works in healthcare and her first cousin Tom Parsons was a stalwart Mayo midfielder and current Gaelic Players Association chief executive. So, despite her being born and reared in Ballinasloe, like the rest of her family, Parsons supports Mayo.

“It’s hard not to think about my roots because my parents are usually in the stands,” she admitted, laughing, “and if they’re not my parents they’re Aoibheann’s or Méabh’s because we’re all from Ballinasloe. It’s brilliant to have that support in camp with girls I’ve played with since day one and our parents always travel if they can and come to our games. That’s been massive and they’ve never stopped supporting us.”

Allowing for a couple of AIL matches last season, Sunday’s pivotal clash with Italy will mark Parsons’s first home game in two seasons, after her return to the Six Nations in last Saturday’s 38-17 defeat, albeit in what was a memorable occasion.

[ Ireland take plenty of positives from another tough French examination ]

“Playing in France in front of their home crowd, you see how much they back women’s sport; the amount of people showing up, the anthems, the chants that they’re singing. It was just incredible so I can’t wait for this weekend to see what Ireland has to bring.”

Last season, without Parsons, Ireland were lacking a little pace, but her return, allied to the emergence of Katie Corrigan, a kind of younger version of Parsons, has given Ireland a sharper cutting edge. Hence hope must also be that more ball reaches the wingers against Italy than was the case against France.

“We’re focusing on our mindset and detail, those are two key words,” said Parsons. “There’s definitely bits that we want to brush up on from the week but there’s loads of stuff that was really good and really positive that we’re going to build on.”

Realistically, Sunday’s game is more important too. Les Bleus in Le Mans, like England in Twickenham on April 20th, each has a huge sense of occasion, but they are free hits to some degree. The Azzurri in the first of three home games is altogether more relevant in the context of Ireland improving on last season’s wooden spoon by avenging last season’s defeat in Parma.

“We’re desperate to be part of a successful Ireland. That’s something that we talk about a lot. Yeah, we had a defeat against France, and we’re not completely happy losing to France. We don’t want to go there and just surrender and take a loss. We want to go there and compete with these teams.

“Italy coming to our shores is something that we don’t take lightly. We want to go out fighting, show them a physical game, impose ourselves and fire shots. We definitely want to come away with a win.”

A victory would also leave this Irish team daring to dream of winning the league within the league, namely finishing third and ensuring qualification for the next World Cup.

“It could be our gateway into the World Cup so make no bones about it we definitely want to get some wins.”

Béibhinn Parsons

Date of birth: November 30th, 2001 (age 22)

Place of birth: Ballinasloe, Co Galway

School: Ardscoil Mhuire, Ballinasloe

Teams: Ballinasloe RFC, Blackrock, Connacht, Ireland Sevens and Ireland

Test debut: January 18th, 2018 v USA

Caps: 22

Tries: 14