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The Ireland Women team before their clash with Italy at the Aviva Stadium. Billy Stickland/INPHO
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Ireland Women to open World Cup campaign with USA encounter

Philip Doyle’s side will then face reigning champions New Zealand, before finishing the group stage against Kazakhstan.

IRELAND WOMEN WILL open their 2014 Rugby World Cup campaign against the USA on Friday the 1st of August at Marcoussis, France.

Philip Doyle’s side finished third in the recent Six Nations following defeats to England and France, but attention has already turned to building for the forthcoming World Cup. Ireland finished eighth at 2010 event in England, but will expect to improve on that in August.

Following their opening clash against the US, Ireland face the demanding task of taking on reigning world champions New Zealand on Tuesday the 5th of August. Their Pool B schedule ends with an encounter with Kazakhstan on Saturday the 9th of August.

Thereafter, the teams from the three pools of the competition will be seeded and play two further matches to decide their final ranking. Ireland must be amongst the top four seeds to have a chance of winning the World Cup outright.

Sky Sports are set to broadcast matches from the tournament in Ireland, while Eurosport will also screen several fixtures. For the more dedicated Irish supporters, the fact that the majority of the tournament will be played at the Marcoussis complex just outside Paris makes the trip very practical.

The finals are set to be hosted at Stade Jean Bouin in Paris, the home of Top 14 club Stade Français.

Ireland’s fixtures at the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup:

  • Friday, August 1 – Ireland v USAMarcoussis 2, 5pm local time [4pm Irish time]
  • Tuesday, August 5 – New Zealand v Ireland, Marcoussis 1, 6pm local time
  • Saturday, August 9 – Ireland v Kazakhstan, Marcoussis 2, 1pm local time
  • Wednesday, August 13 – First knockout game
  • Sunday, August 17 – Second and final knockout game 

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