Eve Higgins relishing Six Nations experience after Seven stint

The 24-year-old centre scored the decisive try when Ireland won their first World Series sevens tournament in Perth back in January, but she has since been a key part of Ireland’s Six Nations plans.

“It’s amazing, it’s something different,” Higgins said of playing the larger code.

“My first Six Nations (in 2021) was during Covid, so it was very weird. I didn’t really get the full sense of it. Since I started playing rugby when I was younger, something I look forward to every year is watching the Six Nations. Still I find it surreal playing in it and it’s an amazing experience, to be honest.”

With the Olympics looming this summer, these are busy times for Higgins, but the Dubliner is relishing the challenges that lie ahead, not least the visit of Wales to Musgrave Park, as both sides chase their first win on the campaign.

“It’s huge,” Higgins insisted.

“Obviously we go into every game wanting to win and perform. It’s another opportunity to play at home after coming off the back of having that record crowd.

“You don’t have many opportunities to play in front of a home crowd with family and friends. It was an unbelievable experience last Sunday, so I'm looking forward to another opportunity to do that next week at Musgrave.

“I think all of us had a bit of frustration when we were reviewing the game because we created really good opportunities but we just couldn’t finish them off.

“We are looking forward to keep making those opportunities and to actually have that killer instinct to finish them off.

"When you look at the game, we had multiple opportunities in the 22, we just couldn’t finish them off and put down that final hammer.

“The reality was that Italy only had a few chances and they converted them, full credit to them. It’s something we have to learn, you just don’t have many opportunities in games, especially in Six Nations games.”

Juggling sevens and fifteens commitments is nothing new for Higgins, but for now at least, the Railway Union player is fully focused on helping Scott Bemand’s side turn the tide.

“I really enjoy playing fifteens and I look forward to more opportunities to do that,” Higgins added.

“I’m just trying to build on each game. I obviously had things to work on from the France game. I was happy with some of the things I had worked on in the Italian game, but again, not fully satisfied.

“I am looking forward to another opportunity next week, hopefully, to build on it.

“One of the things that we as a team want to do is to get more support and to bring rugby around the country. To inspire young people. Not just girls, but boys as well.

“A way of doing that is to actually go into different areas of the country and it’s something that is really exciting.

“With the record crowd there last week, there’s no reason why we can’t keep bringing it into Musgrave and then later on in Kingspan.”