OF ALL THE positives to come out of Ireland’s opening World Cup win over Japan on Sunday, the sight of Sam Monaghan playing the full 80 minutes in a green jersey was right up there.
The Ireland co-captain is not long back from a tough recovery process, with an ACL injury sustained on club duty with Gloucester-Hartpury in June 2024 keeping her sidelined for over a year.
As a result Monaghan wasn’t part of the stunning WXV1 defeat of New Zealand last autumn and didn’t feature in this year’s Six Nations as Ireland continued to improve under Scott Bemand, who joined as head coach during the low point of 2023.
With key players Dorothy Wall and Erin King both missing the World Cup through injury, and Aoife Wafer yet to feature due to a knee injury, the return of Monaghan in the Ireland pack has been a major boost.
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“It’s an amazing moment, and I am very grateful that the times aligned and allowed me to play at the World Cup,” said Monaghan, speaking post-game at Franklin’s Gardens.
Monaghan speaks to the team after the game. Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
“Some players weren’t (as fortunate). Dorothy Wall was in there in the changing room afterwards and it was great to see her. She is a huge part of this group. I am grateful to be here, to have the support staff around me to get me this far.”
Monaghan was Ireland’s top carrier against Japan, with 15, and added 11 tackles across a typically busy display.
Having fallen 14-0 down in their two warm-up games against Scotland and Canada, Ireland were delighted to make a fast start in Northampton, leading 14-0 after 10 minutes, but left the ground knowing some areas of their game will need to be sharper if they are to go far in the tournament.
Next up Ireland play Spain in Northampton on Sunday, where they will hope to book their place in the quarter-finals, before moving on to face New Zealand in Brighton.
“I wouldn’t say there is ever a perfect game. It sort of shows where this team is at the minute, to be honest, because a few of us were frustrated at points and there was maybe momentum swings in that game,” Monaghan said of the display against Japan.
“We felt like maybe we should have turned the tide a bit quicker but there were so many positives to take out of it. I am so proud of the group. No-one can underestimate the Japanese. They are a very strong and clinical side. Some of the defensive pressure we were under was tough.”
The game also marked Ireland’s return to the World Cup stage after eight years, having missed out on the 2021 tournament (played in 2022).
Given hooker Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald is the only member of the squad to have played at the 2017 World Cup, Sunday was a new experience for all bar one of the squad.
That was something Monaghan was acutely aware of as co-captain, a responsibility she shares with flanker Edel McMahon.
I care so much for this team. We all do. So we were trying to keep our heads, focus on what we needed to do, and most of all just enjoy it.
“I had spoken to so many people who were involved in World Cups and who said the nerves (can affect you). The thing we wanted was to really enjoy it. It is amazing to have the opportunity to be between those four white lines. All you have to focus on is that game so it is a pretty special place to be.”
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Monaghan was speaking to the media shortly after addressing her teammates in a very satisfied Ireland dressing room.
“(We) Just (said) that we were incredibly proud and it was never about just the 23. It was about the whole group. That’s what has gotten us this far because some girls are at home that might have done a job here. So it is never just about the 23. Really proud of the staff and the group as a whole.”
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'It's a special place to be' - Ireland co-captain Monaghan relishing return from injury
OF ALL THE positives to come out of Ireland’s opening World Cup win over Japan on Sunday, the sight of Sam Monaghan playing the full 80 minutes in a green jersey was right up there.
The Ireland co-captain is not long back from a tough recovery process, with an ACL injury sustained on club duty with Gloucester-Hartpury in June 2024 keeping her sidelined for over a year.
As a result Monaghan wasn’t part of the stunning WXV1 defeat of New Zealand last autumn and didn’t feature in this year’s Six Nations as Ireland continued to improve under Scott Bemand, who joined as head coach during the low point of 2023.
With key players Dorothy Wall and Erin King both missing the World Cup through injury, and Aoife Wafer yet to feature due to a knee injury, the return of Monaghan in the Ireland pack has been a major boost.
“It’s an amazing moment, and I am very grateful that the times aligned and allowed me to play at the World Cup,” said Monaghan, speaking post-game at Franklin’s Gardens.
“Some players weren’t (as fortunate). Dorothy Wall was in there in the changing room afterwards and it was great to see her. She is a huge part of this group. I am grateful to be here, to have the support staff around me to get me this far.”
Monaghan was Ireland’s top carrier against Japan, with 15, and added 11 tackles across a typically busy display.
Having fallen 14-0 down in their two warm-up games against Scotland and Canada, Ireland were delighted to make a fast start in Northampton, leading 14-0 after 10 minutes, but left the ground knowing some areas of their game will need to be sharper if they are to go far in the tournament.
Next up Ireland play Spain in Northampton on Sunday, where they will hope to book their place in the quarter-finals, before moving on to face New Zealand in Brighton.
“I wouldn’t say there is ever a perfect game. It sort of shows where this team is at the minute, to be honest, because a few of us were frustrated at points and there was maybe momentum swings in that game,” Monaghan said of the display against Japan.
“We felt like maybe we should have turned the tide a bit quicker but there were so many positives to take out of it. I am so proud of the group. No-one can underestimate the Japanese. They are a very strong and clinical side. Some of the defensive pressure we were under was tough.”
The game also marked Ireland’s return to the World Cup stage after eight years, having missed out on the 2021 tournament (played in 2022).
Given hooker Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald is the only member of the squad to have played at the 2017 World Cup, Sunday was a new experience for all bar one of the squad.
That was something Monaghan was acutely aware of as co-captain, a responsibility she shares with flanker Edel McMahon.
“I had spoken to so many people who were involved in World Cups and who said the nerves (can affect you). The thing we wanted was to really enjoy it. It is amazing to have the opportunity to be between those four white lines. All you have to focus on is that game so it is a pretty special place to be.”
Monaghan was speaking to the media shortly after addressing her teammates in a very satisfied Ireland dressing room.
“(We) Just (said) that we were incredibly proud and it was never about just the 23. It was about the whole group. That’s what has gotten us this far because some girls are at home that might have done a job here. So it is never just about the 23. Really proud of the staff and the group as a whole.”
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ireland womens rugby Leader Rugby Sam Monaghan wrwc2025