Biography
Beibhinn Parsons, born on November 30, 2001, in Ballinasloe, County Galway, is an exceptional Irish rugby union player who has quickly risen to prominence in both the 15-a-side and sevens formats. At just 22 years old, she plays as a winger for Blackrock College RFC, Connacht, and the Ireland women’s national rugby union team. Parsons made history by becoming the youngest player, male or female, to play senior rugby for the Irish Rugby Football Union, debuting at the age of 16.
Teams and Years Played
Club Career:
- Ballinasloe RFC (Youth)
- Blackrock College RFC (2020-Present)
Provincial Career:
- Connacht (2018-Present)
International Career:
- Ireland U18 (2017-Present)
- Ireland (2018-Present): 12 caps, 30 points
- Ireland Sevens (2019-Present)
International Caps
Beibhinn Parsons has earned 12 caps for the Ireland national team since her debut in 2018, scoring a total of 30 points.
Career Highlights
Early Life and Introduction to Rugby Parsons was one of only two girls playing rugby when she started with Ballinasloe RFC’s mixed under-11 team. After outgrowing mixed-gender teams, she returned to ladies’ Gaelic football until Ballinasloe RFC formed a girls’ team. Her rugby journey took a significant leap when she led her school, Ardscoil Mhuire, to the All-Ireland girls’ Sevens title in 2018 and scored a hat-trick for Connacht to win their first Under-18 interprovincial title.
Club Career Parsons began her senior career with Richmond Women before moving to Wasps Women and eventually joining Blackrock College RFC in Dublin. Her move to Blackrock coincided with her pursuit of a degree in Biomedical, Health, and Life Sciences at University College Dublin (UCD), where she is an ‘Ad Astra’ scholarship student.
International Rugby Career Despite being too young under Irish Rugby Union rules for senior club or inter-provincial rugby, Ireland head coach Adam Griggs recognized her talent and fast-tracked her into the national squad at just 16. Parsons made her international debut during the 2018 Autumn Internationals against the USA, becoming Ireland’s youngest senior rugby international. She nearly scored with her first touch in the match.
In January 2019, Parsons was part of Ireland’s squad at the Sydney leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series, scoring a try against Fiji. She made her full Ireland XVs debut in the 2019 Women’s Six Nations Championship, scoring her first try in the competition against Wales.
In the 2020 Women’s Six Nations Championship, Parsons scored impressive tries against Scotland and Wales, showcasing her speed and skill. She took a brief break from rugby to focus on her Leaving Certificate exams but returned to play against Italy when the competition resumed in October due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Parsons continued her stellar form in the 2021 Women’s Six Nations, starting on the wing in all games and scoring two tries in Ireland’s 45-0 victory over Wales.
Sevens Rugby Parsons also played a crucial role in the Irish women’s sevens team, helping them win a World Series silver medal in February 2022 in Spain. She scored a try in the final against Australia, where Ireland led 12-0 before narrowly losing 17-12.
Notable Matches and Achievements:
- Youngest Senior Rugby International: Made her debut at 16 against the USA in 2018.
- 2020 Women’s Six Nations Championship: Scored tries against Scotland and Wales.
- 2021 Women’s Six Nations Championship: Scored two tries in a dominant win over Wales.
- World Series Silver Medal: Contributed to Ireland’s historic silver medal win in sevens rugby in February 2022.
Personal Life Beibhinn Parsons is pursuing a degree in Biomedical, Health, and Life Sciences at UCD as an ‘Ad Astra’ scholarship student. She is the cousin of Mayo footballer Tom Parsons, highlighting a family connection to sports excellence.
Honours and Recognition Parsons has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to rugby, winning the 2020 Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Player of the Year Award and being nominated for the RTÉ Young Sportsperson of the Year in 2021. She also won the Try of the Round in Week 2 of the 2021 Women’s Six Nations.