Playing England in the Six Nations would benefit below par Parsons - Hayes

Beibhinn Parsons would benefit from staying with the Ireland team for the upcoming TikTok Six Nations match against England, according to two-time championship winner Fiona Hayes.

The 20-year-old Ireland wing suffered an injury at a sevens tournament in January but was declared "fully fit" by head coach Greg McWilliams ahead of the first match against Wales.

However, she started the first two games of the campaign on the bench and made the team for last weekend's win over Italy without looking close to her best form, which has seen her score seven championship tries.

However, along with a number of other players, the Galway woman is due to return to the sevens fold as they prepare for the Canada leg of the World Series, which takes place in Langford starting on 30 April, six days after the match against the record-breaking Red Roses.

"I thought Beibhinn looked a bit depleted in the game," Hayes told the RTÉ Rugby podcast.

"Her confidence was low, she wasn't the player we’ve seen.

"That could be on the back of injury but I’d love to see her stay and get those XVs games. Whether that happens or not I don’t know. It will be interesting to see how all these dynamics come together."

England have won their last 21 Tests and expect a huge crowd at Welford Road for the round 4 clash against McWilliams’ side on Sunday week.

On the suggestion that Ireland could fly some of the players out after the England match or use some fringe players to supplement the sevens squad so as to bolster the troops for a daunting trip to Leicester, Hayes said: "I think the likes of Stacey [Flood] and Lucy [Mulhall] would have to stick with the sevens just to get the younger players [up to speed].

"But maybe [sending fewer players] over, maybe holding onto a