“We’re so close, we’re so tight knit, I love this team, ‘I’d go to war for them and they’d go to war for me.”
2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations Championship Round 3, Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand, France 25/4/2026
France vs Ireland
Ireland’s Erin King with Fiona Tuite(Image: ©INPHO)
Erin King is starting to look like an inspirational leader on her Ireland team.
She was warrior queen in France and worth name-checking alongside Fiona Coughlan, BOD, Paul O’Connell even if she hasn’t won anything yet. she is still only 22.
Ireland lost 26-7 at Clermont against France but there was no doubting the pitched battle that saw them fade at the death as the home side’s last two tries came in the 67th and 78th minutes.
“I’m unbelievably proud of the girls, we really showed what we’re capable of, it’s just fine margins out there.
“We fired shots, we are so capable, we got penalties, w put pressure on France and you could see that in that first half especially.
“We showed that we can compete with the top four in the world but it’s just getting over that line so my overriding feeling is just being proud of the girls and, a little bit of frustration there.”
Ireland have laid down an impressive marker, this how to play against top quality opposition.
“We definitely have a lot of heart in that team and I’m so proud of the girls we’ve been working really, really hard in training.
“This is the best training block that we’ve been having and we can see it out there.
“We’re so capable and I think we’re almost there and we just keep getting better and better which is so positive.
“I think we can take loads of positives out of that and really bring them into these last two games and, hopefully, come out on top in them.”
Ireland face Wales next in Belfast on Saturday, May 6th at Affidea Stadium, Belfast.
“The main thing now we tweak the tweak the things that we’ve learned, that we take all the learnings from that game but we come together, we regroup.
“We’re so close, we’re so tight knit, I love this team, ‘I’d go to war for them and they’d go to war for me.
“I’ve been enjoying my time with that one thing, you can tell that we all genuinely enjoy each other’s company and it’s a pleasure and an honour to get capped with these girls.
“We’re so lucky, the games have been playing, the stadiums, the fans, everyone coming out.
“The women’s game is just growing and growing and it’s brilliant to see, our ‘Green Wave’ is just getting bigger and bigger.”