Limerick's Jane Clohessy looking to follow in her father's footsteps

MUNSTER RUGBY and Ireland's Jane Clohessy is looking forward to the prospect of representing her country at this year's Women's Rugby World Cup.

READ MORE: The talking points from Limerick's Tailteann Cup final defeat to Kildare

The Limerick native, daughter of legendary Munster and Ireland prop Peter, has been included in the Irish camp for their upcoming friendlies against Scotland and Canada next month and hopes to be named in the final squad for this summer's World Cup campaign in England.

Speaking ahead of a potential World Cup appearance, the UL Bohs back-row is excited at the prospect of the next few months.

"Absolutely looking forward to it, it's a very exciting time. Of course we have another selection piece coming before it's on so there's another bit of waiting to do before we find that out but we do have a match coming up against Scotland which we're all really excited for."

"I got my first cap against Scotland so hopefully I can get in the 23 again and have another crack at them because we didn't get the result that day unfortunately but it's just unbelievable to be a part of."

Clohessy admits she still has to pinch herself from time to time, given the position she finds herself in. 

"To come into this year, as my first year involved and for it to be a World Cup year is that bit extra special because I feel like all I've been doing has been being 'in camp' but I've only been thinking recently that it won't be like this for another four years. So I just have to remind myself that this is a unique year and that it won't always be like this." 

"I don't really know have I truly appreciated where I've gotten to now because I'm in it. I think when this is all over, the World Cup, I'll look back at this year alone and think 'wow.' To have been called up and receive my first cap and to hopefully have been involved in a World Cup, it's definitely been a lot to take in."

Clohessy says that getting used to the international scene was a challenge in itself when the 26 year-old was called into the Irish camp for this year's Women's Six Nation's campaign.  

"In terms of the world of rugby that you're opened up to that you didn't even know existed. Things like how much more professional it is and technical and detailed it is. It probably took me the bones of five weeks of camp to fully grasp the understanding of what was going on, our style of play, things like that," she said. 

"Having had that experience already, I was probably subconsciously stressed during the Six Nations but coming in now knowing what it feels like, I can enjoy it that bit more and relax whilst I'm playing," she added. 

Despite growing up in an environment that would have been surrounded by rugby given the success of her father Peter, Jane admits that becoming a professional rugby player wasn't on the agenda until later on in life.

"I was late coming to the game, as a lot of people are, it wasn't really like a goal or a dream I had growing up. I didn't start watching women's rugby until I started playing women's rugby which I'm not ashamed to admit, it's just how it was."

"So I wouldn't have had any female role models growing up but obviously rugby would've been in the house. I would've watched men's rugby and I would've gone to those games but just as a fan enjoying it and not paying attention to the details."

"So because it became a new goal of mine very fast, I think it will be when all of this settles down after the World Cup that I'll realise how much this year has meant to me," she said. 

Clohessy recalls tearing her MCL towards the end of last year, an injury that made the back-row realise how much rugby means to her. 

"I got called up last year in September to be involved in the camp before they went to the WXV tournament but I tore my my MCL in the inter-pro so I didn't get to go to that camp. My aim was to get back into this one. I realised then how much this means to me," she said. 

Clohessy says there is a 'special feeling' that goes with representing Munster and Ireland. She recalls receiving her first Irish cap and the emotions that that can evoke. 

"When I got my first cap I was overwhelmed with emotion because all of the work that you put in makes it so special. All those dark mornings, all those sessions when you're going away for the weekend and you have to bring a GPS to track your runs, all of that stuff, that's when it felt like it paid off. That's why I did it, because this special feeling is what it's all about." 

"Even seeing young people at the games, both boys and girls wanting to high five you, wanting signatures and photographs and things, it's really special. I remember going to Thomand Park as a kid a seeing great player/fan interactions and it reminded me of that, I think that's what it is all about." 

Being relatively new to international scene is something that Clohessy is using to her advantage, claiming that she mightn't necessarily feel the pressure that some of the more experienced players might feel.

"I think what they say about ignorance being bliss is maybe where I'm at currently. The fact I'm so new to it all. Funnily enough it was more or less the same for my first cap. I came on after around 20 minutes unexpectedly so I didn't have time to think about it or to get nervous, I just got thrown in and you've a job to do, it's sink or swim," she said. 

Ireland are sure to face a stern test when they take the short trip to England this summer. They have been paired with New Zealand, Japan and Spain in pool C.

Clohessy is confident that Ireland can perform when their tournament gets underway on August Sunday, August 24 when they face Japan in Northampton.

"The girls are off the back of beating New Zealand last year which was an unbelievable result, we know we have it in us, it's just a case of going out there and doing it on the day."

"The girls are so excited at the fact that it's on so close to home. It will much easier to being that 'green wave' support over with us so that is exciting," Clohessy concluded.