Photo via BBC Sport

Moloney-MacDonald says smaller ball 'challenging'

5 rugby ball currently undergoing evaluation throughout the September and October WXV Global Series. World Rugby's trial features an implement that matches standard weight yet is roughly 3% smaller than the conventional size five used by men.

The 33-year-old Exeter Chiefs hooker noted that adjusting to the ball in elite Test rugby is tricky because club sides do not utilize it, highlighting that its flight path feels less reliable and that handling becomes particularly demanding amid wet and blustery weather. Player reactions across the sport remain mixed, with English pair May Campbell and Helena Rowland previously voicing worries prior to defeating Australia, while Lisa Neumann of Wales praised how it aided her passing delivery.

Outside of the equipment trial, Moloney-MacDonald offered strong support for potentially incorporating Irish clubs into an expanded Premiership Women's Rugby structure, despite the heavy travel demands it would create. Following a third-place finish in the Six Nations, Ireland begin their WXV slate against the United States this Sunday at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin under head coach Scott Bemand.

Their upcoming schedule continues with a two-game series against Japan across Galway and Cork on 27 September and 3 October, preceding a trip to South Africa for further tournament fixtures.