Scott Bemand has admitted he isn't worried if Ireland's women's rugby team wins things now, as he feels the teams attempt to improve is more important.
Bemand took over from Greg McWilliams in 2023, and since then, Ireland has improved greatly. Ireland finished in third place in last year’s Six Nations and also qualified for the World Cup in England next year.
There was also the historic win over New Zealand. Ireland secured a sensational last-gasp 29-27 victory over the world champions in their opening WXV1 match in Vancouver last September.
The future looks bright for Ireland under Bemand, but there is cautious optimism, and Bemand believes it doesn't matter if Ireland wins prizes now, as the process is more important.
"We want to win things; I've never been worried talking about winning," Bemand said on RTÉ Radio 1’s Saturday Sport.
"If our time is to win now, brilliant. If it isn't, we're going to keep improving at the rate of knots.
"And certainly, in the next couple of years, we've got the World Cup in 2029 in Australia; we want to be right in the mix of winning competitions, whether that's a Six Nations or a World Cup.
"The brilliant thing about what's happened recently is that this is probably happening quicker than we thought."
Absolutely incredible.
Ireland beat the defending World Cup champions New Zealand 29-27.
Erin King with a try after 78mins, Dannah O’Brien with the winning conversion.
Aoife Wafer player of the match.
Sensational team performance. pic.twitter.com/O4xucvVxYU— Sinéad Kissane (@sineadkissane) September 30, 2024
The goal is to make Ireland a well-renowned team in women’s rugby. There is hope that Ireland can make the World Cup in Australia in 2029.
Ireland will play in Pool 3 at the World Cup next summer in England and will take on the Black Ferns, Japan, and Spain in Northampton and Brighton.
Bemand believes it is important that the Irish make people sit up and notice while also becoming a World Cup contender. According to him, this is part and parcel of the fun aspects of sport.
"We think we can get to a World Cup now and make people sit up," he added "So, we want to go deep into the competition.
"We've always said we want to become a World Cup contender, which basically means top four in the world.
"So if you get to a semi-final, we believe you're right in the mix to win it.
"It won't be easy, but it's part of the fun of elite sport."
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