Ireland squad named for 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup - Former England prop included

Ireland have recently proven themselves capeable of beating some of the world's top women's sides, with a historic 29-27 win over New Zealand achieved last Autumn in 2024 WXV1. Ireland failed to qualify for the last Women's Rugby World Cup, which was held in 2022.

Co-Captain Sam McMahon said in the official squad announcement: “Missing out on the last World Cup lit a fire in all of us. Getting Ireland back on the world stage means absolutely everything, it’s something we have dreamed of and fought for ever since. We’re ready, and we are going to give it everything for our country.”

The squad is comprised of 18 forwards and 14 backs and is captained by Edel McMahon and Sam Monaghan. There is one uncapped player in the squad with hooker Beth Buttimer who impressed in the recent U20 Summer Series getting the call up. Ivana Kiripati, Nancy McGillivray and Ellena Perry, who all received caps in the recent warm up games, make the final squad.

Perry is a former England international, who made 11 caps for the Red Roses from 2018 to 2020. After a five year stand-down period from the Test level, the Gloucester-Hartpury prop made her Ireland debut in a recent warm-up match against Canada, and will now run out in Irish colours at the upcoming tournament, which is coincidentally hosted by England.

The Ireland women’s coaching team is led by Head Coach Scott Bemand who is assisted by Alex Codling, Denis Fogarty, Larissa Muldoon, James Scaysbrook and Gareth Steenson.

Head coach Scott Bemand added: “When we qualified for the Rugby World Cup in April 2024, we knew it gave us a solid amount of time to prepare for the tournament. We have used that time to build depth and cultivate our “Green Wave”. The majority of this squad have now been together since the start of June, and we are excited to finally get going.”

(Club / Province) (Test Caps)

Forwards:
Claire Boles (Railway Union RFC / Ulster) (6)
Beth Buttimer (UL Bohemian / Munster)*
Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC / Leinster) (8)
Eimear Corri Fallon (Blackrock RFC / Leinster) (6)
Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC / Leinster) (48)
Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC / Ulster) (34)
Neve Jones (Gloucester Hartpury) (37)
Ivana Kiripati (Creggs RFC / Connacht) (2)
Siobhán McCarthy (Railway Union RFC / Munster) (9)
Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC / Ulster) (16)
Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs / Connacht) (34) Co-Captain
Clíodhna Moloney MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs) (45)
Sam Monaghan (Gloucester Hartpury / IQ Rugby) (23) Co-Captain
Grace Moore (Trailfinders Women / IQ Rugby) (22)
Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC / Leinster) (17)
Ellena Perry (Gloucester Hartpury / IQ Rugby) (1)
Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC / Ulster) (17)
Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College RFC / Leinster) (15)

Backs:
Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC / Munster) (31)
Amee Leigh Costigan (Railway Union RFC / Munster) (19)
Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC / Leinster) (24)
Méabh Deely (Blackrock College RFC / Connacht) (14)
Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC / Leinster) (20)
Nicole Fowley (Galwegians / Connacht) (14)
Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC / Leinster) (28)
Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC / Munster) (17)
Anna McGann (Railway Union RFC / Connacht) (11)
Nancy McGillivray (Exeter Chiefs / IQ Rugby) (1)
Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC / Leinster) (26)
Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC / Connacht) (28)
Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC / Connacht) (16)
Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Manawatū RFC / Leinster) (22)

Ireland v Japan, Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton, Sunday, 24 August, 12pm

Ireland v Spain, Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton, Sunday, 31 August, 12pm

Ireland v New Zealand, Brighton and Hove Albion Stadium, Brighton, Sunday, 7 September, 2.45pm.