‘My mom is really proud. And obviously it's a shame that my granddad's not here to witness it, but she's really proud'
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Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Irish Independent
‘My mom is really proud. And obviously it's a shame that my granddad's not here to witness it, but she's really proud'
Ellena Perry pulls out her phone from inside her pocket to check the exact date she got the WhatsApp message that changed not just the course of her summer but her international career.
RTÉ News
7 days ago
- RTÉ News
Hannah O'Connor: Bolters won't disrupt Ireland's Rugby World Cup plans
Hannah O'Connor doesn't believe that the inclusion of three relatively unknown players in Ireland's squad will be disruptive to the team's Rugby World Cup hopes. Former England prop Ellena Perry and Exeter centre Nancy McGillivray both made their Ireland debuts in the recent warm-up games against Canada and Scotland, respectively, while Connacht back row Ivana Kiripati played in both Tests. Kiripati, 22, played most of her adult rugby in college in the USA but dovetailed her time there with stints in Ireland, impressing for the Clovers in the Celtic Challenge, and Connacht. Gloucester's Perry, 28, is a replacement for injured front row Christy Haney, while 22-year-old McGillivray's PWR experience has earned her a place in Scott Bemand's 32-player squad. Neither was named in the 37-player preparation panel back in May. Back row Deirbhile Nic a Bháird and back Vicky Elmes Kinlan are among those who didn't make the cut for the trip to England, where Ireland will face Japan, Spain and New Zealand in Pool C. Asked what sort of effect parachuting players in at a late stage has on a squad, former Ireland forward Hannah O'Connor told the RTÉ Rugby podcast: "You can kind of get the gist from the girls and from what you hear in the media and anybody doing interviews, it's a very tight-knit group. "Everybody gets along very well and they spend a lot of time in each other's company. "We've heard it in the past from Irish teams under Andy Farrell as well of how cohesive they are as a group in terms of how they get along and that makes a huge difference. "So from that point of view of the new girls coming in, I wouldn't be overly worried about cohesion in terms of knitting in with the group and I heard Scott mention about everybody who has been in the group has brought something to the group. On the overall squad selection, O'Connor, who retired last year after leading Leinster to the Women's Interprovincial crown, added: "I suppose no massive surprises in the backs. Former international @HannahOConnor22 believes the three new Ireland call-ups won't disrupt squad cohesion so close to #RWC2025 - full #RTERugby podcast here — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 13, 2025 "I think they kind of picked themselves, there hasn't been a lot of surprises. "I suppose Nancy McGillivray being the only kind of new face in there compared to what we had seen over the last little while [it's] Vicky Elmes Kinlan who'd be disappointed to miss out there. "In the forwards, obviously Christy Haney is a big blow in terms of the scrum. "We're not flush on props in Ireland in terms of the grassroots, Ellena Perry comes in [because of her] experience. "It's such a key position and [I'm] gutted for Christy. "Scrummaging is her baby and as said she brings a lot of stability there when she's either started or come off the bench. "Ivana Kiripati is probably the bolter there. "She's obviously been in the extended squad the last number of years and been in and around the group and training. "She has played a rugby overseas with college in America and come home for the Celtic Challenge and has played a few interpro games with Connacht. "I suppose someone like Deirbhile Nic a Bháird is a big name that misses out, which I was surprised at myself, to be honest. "Her versatility and what she's done both in a Munster jersey and in a club jersey for Belvedere, anytime she's gotten a chance to shine for Ireland, she is that kind of all-action back row player."
Irish Times
08-08-2025
- Irish Times
Ireland women's rugby coach defends capping two ex-England players in World Cup prep
Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has defended the inclusion of two new players in Ireland's World Cup preparation. It comes after former England international Ellena Perry was named to make her debut off the bench in Saturday's warm-up match against Canada in Belfast. Perry, who earned the last of her 11 England caps in 2020 and therefore satisfies World Rugby 's stand down rules for switching nations, qualifies through an Irish grandparent. She was brought into the set-up a few weeks ago but, with tighthead prop Christy Haney struggling to make the World Cup squad due to a hamstring injury, Bemand has decided to play Perry as loosehead cover on the bench. READ MORE Perry is the second new player from outside the Irish system given a debut in as many weeks. Last weekend, Exeter centre Nancy McGillivray, who has been named in England squads without ever being capped, debuted after qualifying through her Irish-born father. She has been on Ireland's radar for some time, but only became available after her England contract expired in June. Both Perry and McGillivray are expected to be named in the final World Cup squad, to be announced on Monday. Perry is likely to come in for the injured Haney, while McGillivray is not expected to oust any of Eve Higgins, Aoife Dalton or Enya Breen, Ireland's centres from the Six Nations. Instead, an outside back is likely to make way. Ahead of Saturday's game in Belfast, Bemand was asked if introducing players from outside the system so close to the competition risked upsetting the squad dynamic. 'If done incorrectly [yes],' he said. 'But with Christy [Haney] picking up the hamstring niggle we needed to bring in and supplement front row. So actually, everything has been done well, in my opinion. [ Former England prop Ellena Perry in line to make Ireland debut against Canada Opens in new window ] Nancy McGillivray only became available after her England contract expired in June. Photograph: INPHO/ Ben Brady 'Elle [Perry] is a good player, and she's a really good person, having worked with her before. She's known to a good few of the girls [Perry is teammates of Neve Jones and Sam Monaghan at Gloucester] and they would endorse that.' While the new caps can be explained by injury and waiting for contracts to expire, that Ireland looked externally may send a message that the current development pathways don't have World Cup-ready players. Uncapped Ulster and Railway prop Sophie Barrett was one name overlooked by the inclusion of Perry. Yet, other inclusions, such as the potential World Cup place for Under-20 forward Beth Buttimer, would push back against that narrative, one which Bemand is keen to dispel. 'If you look at the number of players now coming through from the women's national talent squad, in girls that are getting touch points through Sevens, through Celtic Challenge, through the Under-20s, our depth is night and day to how it looked two years ago. 'Sophie's [Barrett] nearly ready and if we had to call Sophie up, we'd be confident in what Sophie's capabilities are. She also hasn't played Test match rugby yet. 'Ivana Kiripati, Ailish Quinn, Jemima Adams Verde ... we've got three players that have had touch points with the 20s in the near recent past. Ailish came on and got a first cap last week against Scotland. 'So girls coming through the pathway, through the Under-20s is significant. It's brilliant. I'm excited for the future.' IRELAND (v Canada, World cup-warm-up, Affidea Stadium, Belfast, Saturday, 12pm): Stacey Flood (Railway Union/Leinster); Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College/Connacht), Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Enya Breen (Blackrock College/Munster), Anna McGann (Railway Union); Dannah O'Brien (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College/Connacht); Niamh O'Dowd (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Neve Jones (Gloucester Hartpury), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster); Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere/Ulster); Grace Moore (Trailfinders/IQ Rugby), Ivana Kiripati (Creggs/Connacht), Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere/Ulster). Replacements: Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs), Ellena Perry (Gloucester Hartpury/IQ Rugby)*, Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke/Ulster), Eimear Corri Fallon (Blackrock College/Leinster), Sam Monaghan (Gloucester Hartpury/IQ Rugby), Claire Boles (Railway Union/Ulster), Emily Lane (Blackrock College/Ulster), Eve Higgins (Railway Union/Leinster). *Denotes uncapped player
