Two Ireland stars overcome serious injuries to be named in Women's Rugby World Cup squad
BACK AGAIN Two Ireland stars overcome serious injuries to be named in Women's Rugby World Cup squad
AOIFE Wafer and Edel McMahon have shrugged off injuries to be named in Ireland's squad for the Women's Rugby World Cup.
Inspirational No 8 Wafer was named Player of the Championship in this year's Six Nations.
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Ireland finished third in the Six Nations after securing two away wins
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Wafer joined Harlequins from Leinster ahead of the upcoming rugby season
And while she has not featured for Ireland since suffering a knee issue in round four of the tournament, the Harlequins ace has got the nod.
Flanker McMahon, who is co-captain alongside lock Sam Monaghan, missed Ireland's warm-up matches against Scotland and Canada because of a knee problem.
Munster hooker Beth Buttimer is the only uncapped player in Scott Bemand's selection. Former England prop Ellena Perry has also been selected.
Perry made her Ireland debut in Saturday's 47-26 loss to Canada in Belfast and is eligible through her maternal grandfather.
Deirbhile Nic a Bháird misses out with Erin King, Dorothy Wall and Christy Haney injured.
Ireland begin the World Cup on August 24 against Japan in Northampton and also face Spain and defending champions New Zealand in Pool C.
And head coach 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.
'The majority of this squad have now been together since the start of June. And we are excited to finally get going.'
Forwards: Claire Boles (Railway Union RFC / Ulster), Beth Buttimer (UL Bohemian / Munster),* Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC / Leinster), Eimear Corri Fallon (Blackrock RFC / Leinster), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC / Leinster), Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC / Ulster)
Neve Jones (Gloucester Hartpury), Ivana Kiripati (Creggs RFC / Connacht), Siobhán McCarthy (Railway Union RFC / Munster), Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC / Ulster), Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs / Connacht), Clíodhna Moloney MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs),
Ireland rugby ace dressed as 'Fred Flintstone' stuns pub crowd in Mayo with stunning accordion performance on stag night
Sam Monaghan (Gloucester Hartpury / IQ Rugby), Grace Moore (Trailfinders Women / IQ Rugby), Niamh O'Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC / Leinster), Ellena Perry (Gloucester Hartpury / IQ Rugby), Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC / Ulster), Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College RFC / Leinster).
Backs: Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC / Munster), Amee Leigh Costigan (Railway Union RFC / Munster), Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC / Leinster), Méabh Deely (Blackrock College RFC / Connacht),
Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC / Leinster), Nicole Fowley (Galwegians / Connacht), Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC / Leinster), Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC / Munster), Anna McGann (Railway Union RFC / Connacht), Nancy McGillivray (Exeter Chiefs / IQ Rugby),
Dannah O'Brien (Old Belvedere RFC / Leinster), Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC / Connacht), Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC / Connacht), Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Manawatū RFC / Leinster).
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