Nichola Fryday: New talent shone bright in Celtic Challenge

Ireland captain Nichola Fryday believes the recent performances of the Irish Combined Provinces XV in the Celtic Challenge tournament shows there's real talent coming through the women's game.

The Combined Provinces were comfortable winners of the inaugural tournament in recent weeks, which sees a representative side from Ireland, Scotland and Wales competing as preparation for the Tiktok Women's Six Nations, which gets underway next week.

Head coach Greg McWillians named eight uncapped players in his squad for the opening rounds of the Six Nations, with five of those - Niamh O'Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath, Fiona Tuite, Molly Boyne and Ella Roberts - having featured in the Celtic Challenge.

And after a number of other young prospects impressed during Ireland's successful tour of Japan last summer, Fryday says it shows the extent of the talent coming through.

"We're getting there. We're definitely a lot closer than we were this time last year, we had the Celtic league, so much new talent put their hands up and shone in that tournament," the Ireland captain (below) told RTÉ Sport at the launch of this year's Tiktok Women's Six Nations.

"It's great that that's a new development pathway for girls to get quality gametime ahead of the Six Nations, and we've found some really exciting young players during that tournament.

"We have a nice blend of experience and youth, and you want those bolters coming into the Six Nations that will take those teams by surprise.

"When I look back at some of the girls that are there at 19, and they've been playing rugby for six or seven years. When I was 19, I was only playing a year. They have so much rugby time under their belt, and it's great to see these young talented players coming through so young, and