Interpro series to test Irish depth ahead of WXV 1 campaign

With all eyes on the Olympic Games in Paris across the last fortnight, the 2024 Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship has come in a little bit under the radar.

Despite that, it’s shaping up to be the most important Interpro championship in recent history.

With a high-profile Test against Australia to come next month, before a step-up in class when Scott Bemand’s side take on New Zealand, Canada and the USA in WXV 1 later in the autumn, these next few weeks will be the final opportunity to impress the Ireland head coach and get significant game time into his home-based players.

While the introduction of the WXV to the September/October international window has come at the detriment of the All-Ireland League, it has inflated the importance of the Interpro championship, which was in danger of becoming an afterthought during the 2010s, swapping back and forth between early and mid-season.

Defending champions Leinster will come into the month as favourites to retain their prize, having recovered from a shock defeat to Connacht in last season’s opener before going on to win their seventh title.

"Definitely haven’t forgotten that day," Leinster captain Hannah O’Connor said of that 18-17 defeat in Galway last year.

"It’s definitely in the front of my memory in terms of the frustration and the upset that was caused for us on the first day of the campaign last year."

The sides meet again on the opening day this season, with Leinster the hosts at 4.45pm at Energia Park in Donnybrook on Saturday, and they’ve never lost to the western province at home in the championship.

"We’re under no illusions as to the task that is ahead of us this weekend, and the threats that Connacht pose. They’re a really good side, they have a mix of