Béibhinn Parsons: 'A big stadium can magnify your performance'

Béibhinn Parsons wants Ireland to harness the energy of Aviva Stadium with over 30,000 supporters expected to attend the first-ever standalone women’s fixture at the national stadium.

This weekend Ireland will break the home attendance record of 9,206 set in Round 2 of this year’s Guinness Women’s Six Nations against Italy.

For Parsons, who made her Ireland debut nearly eight years ago at a 16-year-old, it is another opportunity to perform on the biggest stage.

A veteran of the HSBC SVNS Series with Ireland, the 24-year-old wants to sign of a Women’s Six Nations, in which Ireland can secure third-place with a bonus point win over Scotland on Sunday.

“Sometimes a big stadium can magnify your performance, and it can either make you feel 10 feet tall or make you feel 10 inches tall,” Parsons told Irish Rugby. “But I think it’s harnessing the energy in the stadium.

“I think at Dexcom, obviously it’s smaller but the atmosphere was amazing, and I really feed off that. I love a crowd, and I love the energy that all of our fan base brings. So I just can’t wait to see what Sunday will bring.

“It would be very, very special [to score at the Aviva Stadium]. As a winger, you’d be lying if you said you didn’t want to score tries. It would be very special to score here. It would be a great end to a great Six Nations.”

In Scotland, Ireland will come up against an opponent they have experienced mixed fortunes against in recent years.

Last year in the Women’s Six Nations, Scotland were 27-21 winners in Edinburgh, but in a Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 warm-up it was Ireland that had the last laugh in Cork as the hosts picked up a 27-21.

“Scotland have pipped us in pivotal games before and we don’t forget those moments,” Parsons said. “But also this squad, even though it’s not new, it feels like there is a new energy building. We are really focused on ourselves and what we can bring.

“If we want to be a top World Cup contender, these games are going to be about us and showcasing what we can do and implementing our game-plan as much as possible, and less of a focus on Scotland and what they’re bringing.”