Enya Breen: Ireland ready to take a step up in class

This month, Irish women's rugby will return to the top table, even if it’s just a temporary visit.

Scott Bemand’s side don’t have residency in the upper echelons of the game anymore, but when they take on New Zealand, Canada and the USA in the WXV 1 in Vancouver, they’ll have a rare opportunity to see how they face up against some of the game’s best teams outside of the Six Nations window.

Progress isn’t linear, and the likelihood is that this Irish side will have to temper expectations as they step up in class, particularly against the Black Ferns and Canada – the world champions, and the world number three on the rankings, respectively.

Assuming the ultimate aim of this Irish side is to be able to mix it with the likes of England and New Zealand in the future, the reality is that it’s going to take some time and there will be a few bloody noses along the way.

If that day does eventually arrive, then these next five weeks will be hugely influential. It starts this Saturday with Australia in Belfast (2.30pm), before the 35-player squad gets trimmed down to 30 who will jet off to Vancouver for the WXV.

While Ireland hosted the USA at the RDS back in November 2021, for the vast majority of this squad it will be a first opportunity to test themselves against a top tier opponent outside of the Six Nations.

Of the current Irish squad, only Clíodhna Moloney and Eimear Considine featured when Ireland and the Wallaroos met during the 2017 Rugby World Cup, while Moloney and Nicole Fowley are the only survivors from the Irish side that togged out in the previous meeting with New Zealand in November 2016. Ireland’s last clash with the Canadians was also that month, with Fowley the only current player who featured.

"If you want to put