'It's next level' - Japan tour a taste full-time life

Ireland captain Nichola Fryday says their tour of Japan has given the wider squad an ideal window into what life is like as a professional athlete.

Having come together for a full week in advance of departing for the far east, Greg McWilliams' squad have been together in camp for three weeks, by some distance the longest continuous camp an Irish women's team would have had outside of World Cups.

And with the prospect of new professional contracts for Ireland's elite XV-a-side players coming in the next few months, the Ireland captain says they are already seeing the benefits of devoting themselves solely to the game.

"We've been fully immersed in a professional setup for these three weeks," she said, ahead of Ireland's second Test against Japan in Tokyo tomorrow morning (11am Irish time).

"Some of the girls have done a little bit of work, but the majority of us have been able to fully switch to being a full-time athlete for the three weeks we've been on tour.

"It's been amazing, these are the opportunities we've always wanted, and we're getting them now, and it's been a great three weeks of learning as well as getting to play some really enjoyable rugby."

Rest and recovery has been as important as any game preparation this week, with the Irish squad becoming acclimatised to the searing heat and humidity in Japan.

"I definitely think the heat takes an extra toll on your body, hydration is huge. The whole time we've been here, we're making sure we get the fluids back into us.

"Even today at the captain's run it was 40 degrees, and the sweat pumps out of you when you're standing still. It's been a huge part of this trip, the recovery, and I think it's been invaluable learning for the girls around what's expected in recovery in a