Ireland squad named for Women's Rugby World Cup
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.
IrishRugby TV
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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.
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.
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'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
Ireland 2025 Rugby World Cup squad
* Denotes uncapped
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).
Written by Emma Duffy and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe
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