Aoife Dalton, a key player for Ireland, reflects on her challenging journey in international rugby ahead of the upcoming Women's Six Nations match against Wales on Saturday in Belfast. Despite Ireland's recent success against Wales, winning by a combined 57 points in their last two encounters, Dalton emphasizes the importance of maintaining focus and avoiding complacency.

Dalton, now 23 and an established outside centre, recalls her Six Nations debut in 2023, where Ireland suffered a heavy loss of 31-5 in Cardiff. This experience left her fearing for her international career after a disappointing tournament where they lost all five matches. She stated, "I didn't think I'd play for Ireland again after that."

Despite the setbacks, Dalton's determination paid off as she was named player of the year at the Rugby Players Ireland Awards and made her World Cup debut last year, contributing to Ireland's opening win against Japan.

Looking ahead, Ireland aims to finish the campaign strong with home victories over Wales and Scotland. Dalton acknowledges that Wales will enter the match with newfound confidence after scoring four tries against England. She asserts, "We're just trying to put our performance out there and control what we can control."

As Dalton continues to develop her game, she remains focused on overcoming challenges and supporting her team in their quest for success.