Ireland wrapped up their 2026 WXV Global Series campaign in style, clinching a 38-17 win over South Africa and the Mitsubishi Electric Player of the Week award, with winger Béibhinn Parsons claiming the accolade.
Parsons, who had already bagged three tries in the competition's previous rounds, scored a hat-trick in a match in which the 24-year-old dominated in every attacking stat.
By the time the final whistle blew, the Connacht wing had recorded the most carries (15), line breaks (five), metres run (175), defenders beaten (15), and tries (3), pulling off a thrilling performance that helped Ireland get their third win of WXV Global Series 2026.
Her ability to turn any play into a critical try-scoring opportunity was just the tip of the iceberg in a display that made the difference against a Springbok Women side that pushed Ireland to a corner at several points in the match. At times, Parsons seemed unstoppable; several South African tacklers couldn't slow the speedster’s runs, as she repeatedly sidestepped defenders to open the gaps needed to secure her hat-trick.
After a disappointing defeat to the United States, Ireland elevated their performance, securing victories against Japan and South Africa, successes Parsons contributed to significantly, tallying six tries, a never-ending flow of line breaks, and a series of astounding individual displays.
