Natasja Behan has her eyes set on overdue Leinster debut

While Natasja Behan has become an established Ireland international across the last 12 months, there's still a big box to tick for the Wexford native.

On Saturday, the 23-year-old will make an overdue Leinster debut, when Tania Rosser's side open up their Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship campaign away to Connacht at the Sportsground.

A Leinster cap would have come sooner for her had it not been for unfortunate timing. A dual international, her Sevens commitments prevented her from featuring in last season's Interpros in January.

"I'm really looking forward to it," the Ireland international says ahead of her first appearance in blue.

"I was involved with the wider squad for the last two years and with the Sevens last year, it’s great to see what it’s all about and get involved a bit."

It's just under a year since Behan became known to the wider Irish rugby public.

Having impressed for Blackrock College in the AIL, the then-21-year-old was called up for the first time by new head coach Greg McWilliams ahead of the 2022 TkiTok Six Nations Championship, but had to wait until the summer tour of Japan last August to maker her debut.

Behan started both games of that Japan tour on the right wing, scoring a try in the second Test, before switching across to the left wing for the Six Nations earlier this year, starting all five games of what was a disappointing campaign.

"At the time you think you're already there and a year on you realise how much more you’ve learnt," she says as she reflects on her first 12 months of international rugby.

"Especially going in to Six Nations, It’s a whole different campaign, you learn a lot more about yourself as a person as well as a player.

"I’ve seen a lot of development in myself and am