FOUR Ulster players – Sadhbh McGrath, Claire Boles, Brittany Hogan and Fiona Tuite – have been included in a 32-strong Ireland squad for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 in England which kicks off on August 22.
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.
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.
Bemand said: “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.”
Co-Captain McMahon added: “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.”
Monaghan continued: “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.”
SQUAD 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)
*Denotes uncapped
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 – Ireland Fixtures: Ireland v Japan, Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton, Sunday, 24 August, 12 noon.
Ireland v Spain, Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton, Sunday, 31 August, 12 noon.
Ireland v New Zealand, Brighton and Hove Albion Stadium, Brighton, Sunday, 7 September, 2.45pm.
