IRELAND HEAD COACH Scott Bemand has named a 32-player squad for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.
Munster hooker Beth Buttimer is the one uncapped player included, having impressed in the recent U20 Summer Series.
Ex-England players Ellena Perry and Nancy McGillivray, and Connacht’s Ivana Kiripati, who were all capped in the warm-up games, also make the final squad.
Christy Haney misses out with a hamstring injury, while Dorothy Wall and Erin King had previously been ruled out with long-term setbacks.
Aoife Wafer is named as Ireland continue to sweat on the fitness of the 2025 Six Nations player of the championship. Co-captain Edel McMahon also makes the plane having emerged as an injury concern last week.
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In all, the squad is comprised of 18 forwards and 14 backs and is captained by McMahon and Sam Monaghan. Alex Codling, Denis Fogarty, Larissa Muldoon, James Scaysbrook and Gareth Steenson make up Bemand’s coaching team.
Uncapped U20 hooker Beth Buttimer. Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
“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,” said Bemand.
“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.”
Ireland face Japan in their opener on Sunday, 24 August at Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton. They also meet Spain and New Zealand in Pool A as they return to the showpiece tournament for the first time since hosting in 2017.
“Missing out on the last World Cup lit a fire in all of us,” McMahon added.
“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 ‘Green Wave’ is more than just a slogan for us — it’s the spirit we carry onto the field. Over the coming weeks, we want to make our families proud and inspire the nation. This is a moment we’ve worked tirelessly for, and we’ll leave nothing behind.”
Edel McMahon and Scott Bemand. Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
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Ireland squad named for Women's Rugby World Cup
IRELAND HEAD COACH Scott Bemand has named a 32-player squad for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.
Munster hooker Beth Buttimer is the one uncapped player included, having impressed in the recent U20 Summer Series.
Ex-England players Ellena Perry and Nancy McGillivray, and Connacht’s Ivana Kiripati, who were all capped in the warm-up games, also make the final squad.
Christy Haney misses out with a hamstring injury, while Dorothy Wall and Erin King had previously been ruled out with long-term setbacks.
Aoife Wafer is named as Ireland continue to sweat on the fitness of the 2025 Six Nations player of the championship. Co-captain Edel McMahon also makes the plane having emerged as an injury concern last week.
In all, the squad is comprised of 18 forwards and 14 backs and is captained by McMahon and Sam Monaghan. Alex Codling, Denis Fogarty, Larissa Muldoon, James Scaysbrook and Gareth Steenson make up Bemand’s coaching team.
“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,” said Bemand.
“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.”
Ireland face Japan in their opener on Sunday, 24 August at Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton. They also meet Spain and New Zealand in Pool A as they return to the showpiece tournament for the first time since hosting in 2017.
“Missing out on the last World Cup lit a fire in all of us,” McMahon added.
“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 ‘Green Wave’ is more than just a slogan for us — it’s the spirit we carry onto the field. Over the coming weeks, we want to make our families proud and inspire the nation. This is a moment we’ve worked tirelessly for, and we’ll leave nothing behind.”
Ireland 2025 Rugby World Cup squad
* Denotes uncapped
Forwards
Backs
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Ireland On the plane Rugby squad announcement WRWC