Moloney reaping rewards of experience playing in England
Women’s Six Nations
Daire Walsh
Ireland women’s hooker Cliodhna Moloney believes playing for Wasps in England’s Tyrrells Premier 15s has helped sharpen her game.
After missing out the 2019 campaign through a shoulder injury, Molony makes a welcome return to the Irish front-row for Sunday’s Six Nations opener against Scotland at Donnybrook (1pm).
The Galway native previously lined out south Dublin outfit Railway Union – the current Women’s All-Ireland champions – before switching to the London club in the summer of 2018.
“The games are hugely competitive over there. There’s a lot of very good players. Not just from England, from all over the world. Most of the Scots are playing in that league, the Welsh are playing in that league,” said Moloney.
“It might be the speed that I can operate at [that has become sharper]. Not in terms of how quickly I’m running, but how quickly I think on and off the ball. If you’re playing a quicker game week in, week out over there, you need to be able to react quicker. It’s probably that which has improved more than anything else.”
Moloney is not alone in benefiting from cross-channel experience. Five of Sunday’s match day 23 are playing across the water, including club mate Edel McMahon.
Forwards coach Steve McGinnis works full-time in the IRFU’s IQ Rugby programme and is in regular contact with the English-based players.
Moloney said: “It’s good that we’ve got a base over there and [McGinnis] does keep in contact with us in terms of reviewing any of our club games over there. In terms of any personal development that we need to do, he’ll keep in touch with us on that.
“You’re not sitting in the airport on your own. That time’s not wasted either. Someone will have a laptop, you can sit down and do your work. See what you need to be working on for the next week. That’s always helpful.”