“I Don’t Score Too Many Tries So It Was Class” – Delaney’s Remarkable Debut

In her debut for Ireland against Kazakhstan during the opening round of the WXV3 tournament, Sarah Delaney made an impressive entrance onto the international rugby scene by scoring a try.

Delaney, just 18 years old at the time, had experienced a remarkable few months leading up to her debut. She had helped Leinster win the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship title, all while receiving her Leaving Cert results. This achievement earned her a call-up to the Ireland senior squad.

Hailing from Cill Dara RFC, Delaney garnered praise from her club coaches and national head coach Scott Bemand for her potential as a hooker and her mature playing style.

She made history by becoming the first player to earn a Women’s Test cap after participating in the Ireland Under-18 and Under-20 squads.

Delaney recalled her initial selection for the WXV training squad as an unexpected dream come true. Once the shock wore off, her focus shifted to earning a place in the starting lineup through rigorous training. Delaney’s debut featured a memorable try during a powerful lineout maul, which began on Kazakhstan’s 22-meter line.

Describing the experience, Delaney said, “It was an unbelievable feeling, I definitely don’t score too many tries so it was class. The lineouts are something we really work hard on in training so it was a good lineout.”

The article also mentions her unexpected choice of singing ‘Ice Ice Baby’ by Vanilla Ice as her first cap song and her responsibility as the squad’s youngest player to care for the team mascot, ‘Kevin the Carrot.’

Overall, Delaney’s integration into the Ireland squad has been seamless, and senior players have praised her potential. She credits her development to her involvement in the IRFU Women’s pathways, from youth levels to high-performance training.

The article highlights Delaney’s experience at both Under-18 and Under-20 levels and the privilege of training and playing with players she had admired for years. The WXV competition is viewed as a valuable opportunity for young players to gain experience at the highest level of the sport.

Delaney and her team look forward to the WXV3 title showdown with Spain, a team that has also invested in youth talent, and she commends World Rugby for providing this global cross-pool competition. It’s seen as a platform for player development and preparation for future tournaments, including the Six Nations.