Edel McMahon and Aoife Wafer make Ireland's World Cup squad despite injuries
Head coach Scott Bemand suggested that McMahon would have been available to play last Saturday against Canada in Belfast had the game been one of higher stakes as the experienced flanker rehabs a knee problem.
Wafer's availability is less forthcoming. The back row is still dealing with knee ligament issues suffered against Wales during the spring's Six Nations but the expectation will be that she features at some point of the campaign.
Ireland start against Japan in Northampton next Sunday week but Christy Haney won't be part of the panel. The loosehead prop has a hamstring injury that has kept her out of action in recent weeks and she loses out.
Bemand spoke after Saturday's game about the fact that the squad can't carry too many players with injuries. He has instead opted to pick Ellena Perry as one of his looseheads after the former England player made her Ireland debut over the weekend.
McMahon and Sam Monaghan will co-captain the squad and there is one uncapped player with hooker Beth Buttimer, who impressed in the recent U20 Summer Series, getting the call up for the biggest gig in tow.
Also make the final travelling party with Deirbhile Nic a Bahaird, Jane Clohessy, Sarah Delaney, Aoife Corey and Katie Corrigan among the players named in the initial 37-strong training panel to fall the wrong side of the cut.
This is Ireland's first World Cup in eight years having failed to qualify for the 2021 tournament that was delayed and held 12 months later. A quarter-final spot will be the minimum required with the squad setting the goal of a London semi.
'Missing out on the last World Cup lit a fire in all of us,' said McMahon. '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.'
Ireland 2025 Rugby World Cup RWC 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
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