A significant transformation has occurred within Ireland's women's rugby team under head coach Scott Bemand over the past two years. After starting his tenure with the challenge of securing his first victory, Bemand now leads a squad that has comfortably secured a 33-12 victory against Wales, positioning them firmly in third place in the 2026 Women's Six Nations.

Bemand emphasized the importance of belief in the team's progress. He stated, "So, when I first came in, the first season was just about getting the girls to believe they could actually be quite good... Where that's changed over the two years is now, they know they can be good."

Ireland's recent win marks their second triumph this campaign, following a remarkable 57-20 victory over Italy. Bemand noted the team's growing ability to handle pressure, stating, "We're starting to handle bigger occasions and bigger pressure more, and with that comes more expectation."

Despite their success, Bemand acknowledged the need for improvement, particularly against top-tier teams like France and England, whom Ireland has yet to defeat. He expressed the team's ambition, stating, "We do want to be in games where we're in a position to beat an England and a France."

Looking ahead, Ireland's final match in the Six Nations is against Scotland on 17 May at the Aviva Stadium. Bemand remains optimistic about the future, affirming their trajectory is upward and that they are still "hungry to get better." The focus now shifts to enhancing their performance to challenge the top teams effectively in the next tournament.