Ireland captain Nichola Fryday announces retirement from international rugby

Ireland Women's captain Nichola Fryday has announced her retirement from international rugby with immediate effect.

The news on her retirement follows after Ireland had a disappointing Six Nations campaign where they lost all their five matches and finished at the bottom.

Fryday made her Test debut in 2016 and has gone on to play 34 Tests. She was appointed the captain ahead of the 2022 Six Nations tournament succeeding Ciara Griffin.

"The 2023 Six Nations may not have been the tournament I had hoped to end my International career on, but one thing I learned with that phenomenal group of players was the true definition of grit and heart in the midst of adversity," Fryday said in a statement.

"My time representing my country has been full of highs and lows personally and as a collective. If back in 2015 you had told me when I first picked up a rugby ball in Tullamore RFC I would one day represent my country 34 times and captain the team for two seasons I wouldn't have believed you.

"The beauty of women’s rugby is the endless possibilities and the huge growth still to be made in the sport for any girl or woman that decides to pick up a ball in their local club like I did."