Harder, though, was in the stands supporting her partner that day – not playing against her on the pitch. Which is why the Moloney-MacDonalds’ appearance at Twickenham is unique. They are the first married couple known to have faced each other in a XVs international rugby fixture.
Their double appearance took on extra significance given the bumpy rides they have both had at Test level. Claudia suffered a serious neck injury in 2022 that forced her to contemplate retirement, before a second neck issue two years ago eroded her confidence to the point that she was terrified of leaving the house.
Ireland hooker Cliodhna, meanwhile, spent two and a half years in the international wilderness after being cast off by the IRFU for comments aimed at Anthony Eddy, the former director of women’s rugby, who had given a defensive interview after the side’s failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. It is a sign of Scott Bemand’s positive influence on the squad that Cliodhna was reintroduced into the Irish set-up after he was appointed head coach the following year.
“It’s great to be back fit and healthy on the pitch and experiencing an atmosphere that we’ll never forget,” said Cliodhna. “For years, we both had different turns of watching each other, so it’s great to be both busy and in camp, hopefully getting selected every week.”