Ireland kicking coach Gareth Steenson keeps focus on Women's World Cup role
Johnny Sexton
following this summer's women's World Cup in England.
In April the
Irish Rugby Football Union
(IRFU) announced that Sexton would take up a full-time position with the Union from Friday, August 1st.
The IRFU statement explained that as part of his expanded coaching role he would work with the various men's and women's national age-grade teams up to senior level.
The former Irish captain has been involved with the Ireland men's squad in a part-time coaching capacity since the 2024 Autumn Nations Series before stepping into an assistant coaching role.
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He was also part of
Andy Farrell's
backroom team on the
Lions
tour to Australia, which ended in a 2-1 series win last weekend.
'I know my role, so my role has been in with the girls,' said Steenson. 'I've been here now a year. How that looks going forward ... I've been working with these girls for the last year or so, so yeah, we'll see when Johnny comes back.
Lions kicking coach Johnny Sexton works with Owen Farrell and Finn Russell during a training session at the Adelaide Oval. Photograph:'So, my future is now I'm going to the World Cup, so post that ... it will be a matter of seeing where we are post World Cup really. It's something I've been part of ... I've been fortunate. When I moved back home a year ago it was very lucky to come in and work with the pathway work, with the Sevens, right across that kicking regime.'
An Irish under-21 player, Steenson did not get opportunities with his home province Ulster, in part because Ireland international David Humphreys was the starting outhalf at the time.
He left Ireland to play for the Rotherham Titans and joined Cornish Pirates before moving to Exeter. Steenson won the golden boot in the 2016 Premiership awards and helped Exeter reach the 2016 Premiership Rugby final.
The following year he started the final and scored two conversions and three penalties, including the winning points, as Exeter defeated Wasps for the 2016-17 English Premiership title.
'I've been very fortunate to almost be part of the growth piece as well, so it's been really exciting,' said Steenson. 'I've loved it. All the focus has been really getting to this World Cup. Now we know that we are on the brink of it, it's very exciting.'
Ireland face Canada in Belfast on Saturday in the final preparation match before their tournament begins against Japan on August 24th in Franklin's Garden.
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Irish Examiner
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Women's International Summer Series: Ireland 26 Canada 47 Despite being marked absent for their final warm-up game against Canada at Affidea Stadium in Belfast on Saturday, Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has revealed co-captain Edel McMahon is 'bang on track' to regain her fitness in time for the forthcoming Women's Rugby World Cup. Clare native McMahon has been dealing with a knee issue in recent weeks and hasn't featured for Ireland since the conclusion of the Six Nations Championship last April. Yet Bemand explained in the aftermath of Saturday's game that she potentially could have played if it was a fixture of greater significance and this raises hopes that she'll be named in his official squad for the RWC on Monday morning. 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Scorers for Ireland: Tries: A McGann 2, B Parsons 2 Cons: D O'Brien 3 Scorers for Canada: Tries: F Symonds 2, J Pelletier, D Menin, P Farries, J Schell, S de Goede Cons: S de Goede 6 IRELAND: S Flood; B Parsons, A Dalton, E Breen (E Higgins 52), A McGann; D O'Brien, A Reilly (E Lane 66); N O'Dowd (E Perry 56), N Jones (C Moloney-MacDonald 56), L Djougang (S McGrath 71); R Campbell (E Corri Fallon 66), F Tuite; G Moore, I Kiripati (C Moloney-MacDonald 31-40 & S Monaghan h-t), B Hogan (C Boles 56). CANADA: J Schell; A Corrigan, F Symonds (S-M Lachance 68), A Tessier (S Seumanutafa 24), P Farries (O Demerchant 26-30); C Gallagher, J Pelletier (O Apps 56); M Hunt (B Kassil 52), G Boag (E Tuttosi 52), D Menin (O Demerchant h-t); S de Goede, T Beukeboom; K Paquin (P Buisa 56) (C O'Donnell 60)), C Crossley, F Forteza. Referee: A Groizeleau (France).
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15 minutes ago
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