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BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Monaghan and Parsons in Ireland RWC training squad
Ireland's Sam Monaghan and Beibhinn Parsons have both been included in a 37-player training squad for the Women's Rugby World Cup in Bemand's side begin their tournament against Japan on 24 August with New Zealand and Spain also in their Monaghan has not played international rugby since the 2024 Six Nations with the 31-year-old lock missing this season's championship and last year's WXV1 campaign through a knee injury sustained playing for her club Parsons has also been absent through injury after she suffered two leg breaks in the space of four months, the second coming when representing Ireland Sevens in December. With 26 Tests to her name, only Enya Breen has more caps than Parsons among the backs in Bemand's Sarah Delaney, Eimear Corri and Shannon Ikahihifo are all included after missing out on the Six Nations where Ireland finished third with two wins and three Atagamen and Ivana Kiripati are the only two uncapped players in the forwards Erin King and Dorothy Wall have already been ruled out of the tournament through injuries sustained in the Six Nations. Ireland's final squad for the competition will be reduced to 32 players with the side playing warm-up games against Scotland in Cork on 2 August and Canada in Belfast seven days later. The side did not qualify for the 2021 World Cup after finishing eighth on home soil four years prior. Ireland Women's World Cup training squad Forwards: Alma Atagamen, Aoife Wafer, Brittany Hogan, Christy Haney, Cliodhna Moloney, Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird, Edel McMahon, Fiona Tuite, Grace Moore, Ivana Kiripati, Jane Clohessy, Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Niamh O'Dowd, Ruth Campbell, Sadhbh McGrath, Sam Monaghan, Sarah Delaney, Shannon Ikahihifo, Siobhan Amee-Leigh Costigan, Anna McGann, Aoibheann Reilly, Aoife Corey, Aoife Dalton, Beibhinn Parsons, Dannah O'Brien, Emily Lane, Enya Breen, Eve Higgins, Katie Corrigan, Molly Scuffil-McCabe, Nicole Fowley, Stacey Flood, Vicky Elmes Kinlan.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Thursday night blockbuster to start 2026 Six Nations
Ireland will travel to defending champions France in the first-ever Thursday night fixture in Six Nations' history when the 2026 tournament begins on 5 and France have won the last four titles between them and their blockbuster 20:10 GMT encounter has been brought forward to avoid a clash with the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Milan the following shift is designed to maximise audiences in France. The finale of last year's tournament, when France beat Scotland to secure the title, returned record Six Nations audiences in France with 9.5m people (a 46% share of viewers) watching live on France2., externalThe 2026 tournament recorded a 6.3% increase in audience in domestic markets has also been confirmed there will be only one rest weekend, rather than the previous two, in the 2026 tournament. 2026 Six Nations fixtures in full (all times GMT) Round 1France v Ireland - Thursday 5 February (20:10)Italy v Scotland - Saturday 7 February (14:10)England v Wales - Saturday 7 February (16:40)Round 2Ireland v Italy - Saturday 14 February (14:10)Scotland v England - Saturday 14 February (16:40)Wales v France - Sunday 15 Feburary (15:10)Round 3 England v Ireland - Saturday 21 February (14:10)Wales v Scotland - Saturday 21 February (16:40)France v Italy - Sunday 22 February (15:10)Round 4Ireland v Wales - Friday 6 March (20:10)Scotland v France - Saturday 7 March (14:10)Italy v England - Saturday 7 March (16:40)Round 5 Ireland v Scotland - Saturday 14 March (14:10)Wales v Italy - Saturday 14 March (16:40)France v England - Saturday 14 March (20:10) The opening three rounds of matches will be played in successive weeks, with the weekend of 28 February and 1 March left final two rounds will follow on successive weekends, ending in a 'Super Saturday' of back-to-back fixtures with France hosting England in the final match. It is hoped the shorter length of the tournament will allow it to gather more momentum, with narratives holding the public attention more the third round of fixtures would have been sandwiched between two rest France take on Ireland, the rest of the opening round of fixtures sees Scotland travel to Italy on Saturday, 7 February (14:10 GMT) and England host Wales on the same day (16:40 GMT).France are still to confirm the venues for their French Rugby Federation said in December it had not yet received a satisfactory proposal to stay at the Stade de France, their usual Paris added it was considering "the various opportunities available" played in Marseille, Lille and Lyon in the 2024 Six Nations while preparations for the Olympics in Paris meant the Stade de France was off three venues can hold more than 50,000, but none can match the 80,000 capacity and revenue generated by the Stade de France. Six Nations organisers have also confirmed that the 2026 women's tournament will kick off three weeks later than the 2025 edition, pushing it to an April start and May finish. The change is part of new and separate global calendar for the women's game. It means England's PWR season will conclude after mid-summer with the top flight having a rest weekend followed by two regular-season rounds, semi-finals and a 27 June final after the conclusion of the Women's Six Nations.
BreakingNews.ie
12-05-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Ireland captain Caelan Doris ruled out for four to six months
Leinster and Ireland captain Caelan Doris could be out of action until November following surgery on his shoulder. The province's injury bulletin has confirmed that the Mayo man will be absent for between four and six months. Advertisement After missing out on Lions selection Doris is also a doubt for Ireland's autumn internationals. Ireland face New Zealand in Chicago on November 1st before hosting Japan, Australia and South Africa in Dublin on the following three weekends.
Irish Times
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Munster and Ireland prop Dave Kilcoyne announces his retirement
Munster and Ireland prop Dave Kilcoyne has announced that he is to retire at the end of the season after a 15-year career in which he played over 200 times for his province and won 56 caps for his country. The 36-year-old Limerick loosehead scored 22 tries in 220 appearances for Munster and played in both the 2019 and 2023 World Cups with Ireland. he was also part of the 2023 Grand Slam winning side. Announcing his retirement, Kilcoyne said: 'Growing up living in Limerick, my dream was always to play for Munster and Ireland. To have done so for so long has been a dream come true. 'The last two years haven't gone as planned with surgeries to my shoulder and Achilles. In a way, it's easier that the decision to play on has been taken away from me. READ MORE 'I take great pride in knowing that I always gave everything I had and left nothing on the pitch. It's almost a fitting way for me to finish up. 'I want to thank all the coaches that have influenced my career right the way up from UL Bohemians, Ardscoil Rís, Munster and Ireland. 'I want to thank my family who have been a constant support throughout my career. I certainly wouldn't have had the career I had if it wasn't for their unwavering support over the years. 'I want to thank all my team-mates that I shared the battlefield with over the years, a lot of whom are my best friends today. 'To the red army of Munster supporters that have cheered and supported me and my career since 2011, thank you – I look forward to joining you in the stands! 'I'd also like to thank the University of Limerick (and my mother) for encouraging me and accommodating my education over the years. After my degree in Business Studies, I was able to complete an MSc in Business Project Management in 2019. 'I am just about to finish a Professional Diploma in Aircraft Leasing and Finance and hope to graduate in the summer. This wouldn't have been possible without the help and understanding of the lecturers and University. 'I'm extremely excited for what the next chapter brings and using all the skills and life lessons that my rugby career has given me.' Munster head of rugby operations and interim head coach Ian Costello said: 'We knew Killer had the potential to be a fantastic player for Munster and Ireland when he came into our Academy in 2010. 'He certainly fulfilled that potential and to have played a combined 276 games for Munster and Ireland is an outstanding achievement. 'I know everyone at Ardscoil Rís and UL Bohs have taken huge pride in his accomplishments since he made his Munster debut in 2011. 'Along with being a quality player, he is a great character and will be sorely missed around the HPC. 'I'm sure he will enjoy great success in whatever he chooses to do next and we wish him and his family the very best for the future.' IRFU performance director David Humphreys added: 'It is never an easy day for a player to hang up their boots, but Dave can look back on his career with immense pride. 'As both a character and a driving force on the field he will be missed, but to play more than 50 times for his country tells you all you need to know about his abilities as a high-class loosehead prop. 'Dave made an enormous contribution to the red of Munster and green of Ireland and he can reflect on playing his part on a successful era for Irish rugby. 'On behalf of everyone in Irish rugby I would like to wish him and his family the very best in the future.' Kilcoyne's announcement comes just a week after Munster and Ireland tighthead Stephen Archer announced that he is to retire in the summer at the age of 37 as the province's most capped player.
