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RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
RTÉ Rugby podcast: Focus turns to Women's Rugby World Cup
The RTÉ Rugby panel of Hannah O'Connor and Jonny Holland look ahead to the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025, which starts on Friday week. The panel discuss Ireland's warm-up defeat to Canada and assess where the team are ahead of their opening Pool C game against Japan on 24 August. We ask who was unlucky to miss out on squad selection and would some late additions disrupt harmony in the panel. The analysts give their prediction on how Ireland will get on at the World Cup.
The Journal
09-08-2025
- Sport
- The Journal
Ireland fall to defeat to Canada in final World Cup warm-up game
Ireland 26 Canada 47 DESPITE DELIVERING A spirited second half display at Affidea Stadium in Belfast this afternoon, Ireland suffered defeat at the hands of Canada in their second and final Women's Rugby World Cup warm-up game. Trailing 40-7 with just 25 minutes remaining in the contest, Scott Bemand's charges registered 19 points on the bounce to significantly lift the spirits of the Irish supporters that were in attendance at the home of Ulster Rugby. However, with Sophie de Goede bringing her personal tally up to 17 points in the closing moments, Canada emerged as comprehensive and deserved winners in the end. Following a 27-21 triumph over Scotland at Virgin Media Park in Cork last weekend, Ireland head coach Bemand made 10 changes to his starting line-up in advance of Monday's official squad announcement for the World Cup in England – which begins for the Irish on 24 August with a Pool C opener against Japan at Franklin's Gardens in Northampton. Before coming back to ultimately earn the spoils, Ireland found themselves staring into an early 14-0 deficit against the Scots on the Leeside seven days ago. Although they enjoyed some initial possession when Beibhinn Parsons earned a penalty off Dannah O'Brien's kick-off, Ireland subsequently trailed by the same margin with just 14 minutes on the clock. After outside centre Florence Symonds raced under the posts on 10 minutes after a relentless spell of attacking pressure, scrum-half Justine Pelletier broke away moments later for the visitors' second try of the action (second row Sophie de Goede was on hand to slot over a brace of conversions). While these were ominous signs for Ireland, they did gain a temporary numerical advantage at the end of the opening quarter when Canada's tighthead prop Daleaka Menin was sin-binned for a high tackle on Connacht flanker Ivana Kiripati. This was the cue for Ireland to establish some attacking momentum and when the ball was moved towards the right-flank on 20 minutes, Parsons regathered possession after initially being tackled by a retreating Canadian defender and proceeded to touch down in fine style. Beibhinn Parsons. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO Ireland's prospects were further bolstered when O'Brien confidently split the posts from the conversion that followed Parsons' five-pointer, but this was as good as it got for the home team during the first half. Even though Canada were forced to withdraw team captain Alexandra Tessier for a head injury assessment, a second converted try from Symonds ensured Kevin Rouet's side had restored their 14-point cushion before Menin returned to the field of play. Her re-emergence coincided with Ireland's starting captain Neve Jones being issued with a yellow card by match referee Aurélie Groizeleau and the Exeter Chiefs front-row offered further breathing space to the 2014 World Cup finalists by driving over for their fourth try on 33 minutes. Ireland were back to their full complement prior to the interval, but with another intricate Canadian attack in stoppage-time leading to a converted finish for winger Paige Farries on the left flank, they trailed by all of 26 points (33-7) at the break. There was certainly a greater energy to the Irish play when the action resumed, helped in no small way by the introduction of regular team skipper Sam Monaghan for her second international appearance since recovering from a long-term injury lay-off. However, Canada maintained a potent attacking threat – exemplified by full-back Julia Schell's breakaway try 15 minutes into the second half. A fourth successful conversion from de Goede increased the gap between the teams, before Ireland finally hit a purple patch either of the third-quarter mark. Advertisement The addition of further fresh legs (including former England prop Ellena Perry for her Ireland debut) aided their cause substantially, but it was starting winger Anna McGann who got on the end of an elaborate pass out wide by full-back Stacey Flood for her side's second try on 59 minutes. Head coach Scott Bemand. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO McGann was becoming more prominent as the game progressed and the Westmeath native showcased her athleticism just three minutes later by sprinting through a gap in the Canada defence for an outstanding individual score. Having been denied a second successful conversion by the woodwork in the aftermath of McGann's first try, O'Brien made no mistake on this occasion as Ireland started to operate with a greater degree of authority. The Canadian rearguard were now being placed under sustained pressure by their Irish counterparts and after the play was switched from one side to the other, Parsons was left with a relatively routine task of crossing over to the right of the posts for her second try on 71 minutes. O'Brien added the bonuses once again to reduce the gap to 14 points, but this was as close as Ireland came to claiming a dramatic comeback win. With Flood in the sin-bin following consultation between Groizeleau and TMO Andrew McMenemy, the excellent de Goede bagged a seven-point salvo in the final minute to ensure their opponents will depart for the World Cup on the back of a 21-point reversal. Scorers for Ireland: Tries – Beibhinn Parsons 2, Anna McGann 2 Conversions – Dannah O'Brien [3/4] Scorers for Canada: Tries – Florence Symonds 2, Justine Pelletier, Daleaka Menin, Paige Farries, Julia Schell, Sophie de Goede Conversions – Sophie de Goede [6/7] Ireland: Stacey Flood; Beibhinn Parsons, Aoife Dalton, Enya Breen (Eve Higgins '52), Anna McGann; Dannah O'Brien, Aoibheann Reilly (Emily Lane '66); Niamh O'Dowd (Ellena Perry '56), Neve Jones (Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald '56), Linda Djougang (Sadhbh McGrath '71); Ruth Campbell (Eimear Corri Fallon '66), Fiona Tuite; Grace Moore, Ivana Kiripati (Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald '31-40 & Sam Monaghan half-time), Brittany Hogan (Claire Boles '56). Canada: Julia Schell; Alysha Corrigan, Florence Symonds (Sarah-Maude Lachance '68), Alexandra Tessier (Shoshanah Seumanutafa '24), Paige Farries (Olivia Demerchant '26-30); Claire Gallagher, Justine Pelletier (Olivia Apps '56); McKinley Hunt (Brittany Kassil '52), Gillian Boag (Emily Tuttosi '52), Daleaka Menin (Olivia Demerchant half-time); Sophie de Goede, Tyson Beukeboom; Karen Paquin (Pamphinette Buisa '56) (Courtney O'Donnell '60)), Caroline Crossley, Fabiola Forteza. Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (France). Written by Daire Walsh 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 here .
The 42
09-08-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Ireland fall to defeat to Canada in final World Cup warm-up game
Ireland 26 Canada 47 DESPITE DELIVERING A spirited second half display at Affidea Stadium in Belfast this afternoon, Ireland suffered defeat at the hands of Canada in their second and final Women's Rugby World Cup warm-up game. Trailing 40-7 with just 25 minutes remaining in the contest, Scott Bemand's charges registered 19 points on the bounce to significantly lift the spirits of the Irish supporters that were in attendance at the home of Ulster Rugby. However, with Sophie de Goede bringing her personal tally up to 17 points in the closing moments, Canada emerged as comprehensive and deserved winners in the end. Following a 27-21 triumph over Scotland at Virgin Media Park in Cork last weekend, Ireland head coach Bemand made 10 changes to his starting line-up in advance of Monday's official squad announcement for the World Cup in England – which begins for the Irish on 24 August with a Pool C opener against Japan at Franklin's Gardens in Northampton. Before coming back to ultimately earn the spoils, Ireland found themselves staring into an early 14-0 deficit against the Scots on the Leeside seven days ago. Although they enjoyed some initial possession when Beibhinn Parsons earned a penalty off Dannah O'Brien's kick-off, Ireland subsequently trailed by the same margin with just 14 minutes on the clock. After outside centre Florence Symonds raced under the posts on 10 minutes after a relentless spell of attacking pressure, scrum-half Justine Pelletier broke away moments later for the visitors' second try of the action (second row Sophie de Goede was on hand to slot over a brace of conversions). While these were ominous signs for Ireland, they did gain a temporary numerical advantage at the end of the opening quarter when Canada's tighthead prop Daleaka Menin was sin-binned for a high tackle on Connacht flanker Ivana Kiripati. This was the cue for Ireland to establish some attacking momentum and when the ball was moved towards the right-flank on 20 minutes, Parsons regathered possession after initially being tackled by a retreating Canadian defender and proceeded to touch down in fine style. Beibhinn Parsons. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO Ireland's prospects were further bolstered when O'Brien confidently split the posts from the conversion that followed Parsons' five-pointer, but this was as good as it got for the home team during the first half. Advertisement Even though Canada were forced to withdraw team captain Alexandra Tessier for a head injury assessment, a second converted try from Symonds ensured Kevin Rouet's side had restored their 14-point cushion before Menin returned to the field of play. Her re-emergence coincided with Ireland's starting captain Neve Jones being issued with a yellow card by match referee Aurélie Groizeleau and the Exeter Chiefs front-row offered further breathing space to the 2014 World Cup finalists by driving over for their fourth try on 33 minutes. Ireland were back to their full complement prior to the interval, but with another intricate Canadian attack in stoppage-time leading to a converted finish for winger Paige Farries on the left flank, they trailed by all of 26 points (33-7) at the break. There was certainly a greater energy to the Irish play when the action resumed, helped in no small way by the introduction of regular team skipper Sam Monaghan for her second international appearance since recovering from a long-term injury lay-off. However, Canada maintained a potent attacking threat – exemplified by full-back Julia Schell's breakaway try 15 minutes into the second half. A fourth successful conversion from de Goede increased the gap between the teams, before Ireland finally hit a purple patch either of the third-quarter mark. The addition of further fresh legs (including former England prop Ellena Perry for her Ireland debut) aided their cause substantially, but it was starting winger Anna McGann who got on the end of an elaborate pass out wide by full-back Stacey Flood for her side's second try on 59 minutes. Head coach Scott Bemand. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO McGann was becoming more prominent as the game progressed and the Westmeath native showcased her athleticism just three minutes later by sprinting through a gap in the Canada defence for an outstanding individual score. Having been denied a second successful conversion by the woodwork in the aftermath of McGann's first try, O'Brien made no mistake on this occasion as Ireland started to operate with a greater degree of authority. The Canadian rearguard were now being placed under sustained pressure by their Irish counterparts and after the play was switched from one side to the other, Parsons was left with a relatively routine task of crossing over to the right of the posts for her second try on 71 minutes. O'Brien added the bonuses once again to reduce the gap to 14 points, but this was as close as Ireland came to claiming a dramatic comeback win. With Flood in the sin-bin following consultation between Groizeleau and TMO Andrew McMenemy, the excellent de Goede bagged a seven-point salvo in the final minute to ensure their opponents will depart for the World Cup on the back of a 21-point reversal. Scorers for Ireland: Tries – Beibhinn Parsons 2, Anna McGann 2 Conversions – Dannah O'Brien [3/4] Scorers for Canada: Tries – Florence Symonds 2, Justine Pelletier, Daleaka Menin, Paige Farries, Julia Schell, Sophie de Goede Conversions – Sophie de Goede [6/7] Ireland: Stacey Flood; Beibhinn Parsons, Aoife Dalton, Enya Breen (Eve Higgins '52), Anna McGann; Dannah O'Brien, Aoibheann Reilly (Emily Lane '66); Niamh O'Dowd (Ellena Perry '56), Neve Jones (Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald '56), Linda Djougang (Sadhbh McGrath '71); Ruth Campbell (Eimear Corri Fallon '66), Fiona Tuite; Grace Moore, Ivana Kiripati (Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald '31-40 & Sam Monaghan half-time), Brittany Hogan (Claire Boles '56). Canada: Julia Schell; Alysha Corrigan, Florence Symonds (Sarah-Maude Lachance '68), Alexandra Tessier (Shoshanah Seumanutafa '24), Paige Farries (Olivia Demerchant '26-30); Claire Gallagher, Justine Pelletier (Olivia Apps '56); McKinley Hunt (Brittany Kassil '52), Gillian Boag (Emily Tuttosi '52), Daleaka Menin (Olivia Demerchant half-time); Sophie de Goede, Tyson Beukeboom; Karen Paquin (Pamphinette Buisa '56) (Courtney O'Donnell '60)), Caroline Crossley, Fabiola Forteza. Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (France).
RTÉ News
09-08-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Preview: Ireland aim to build more World Cup momentum against Canada
Ireland face the might of Canada in this afternoon's second World Cup warm-up match looking to build on last weekend's comeback victory over Scotland. Despite a shaky start, with the hosts finding themselves 14-0 down by the 23rd minute, Scott Bemand's side from there outscored their opponents five tries to one and earned a spirit-boosting win. But the North Americans, ranked two in the world, are a step up in class and come into the game on the back of a 42-10 win over the USA, in which they scored 35 unanswered points. The sides met as recently as last season in the WXV1 tournament in Canada where the home side were good value for a 21-8 win, Ireland hampered by two almost simultaneous yellow cards and a failure to execute chances that arose. The Ireland team that kicks off a the Affidea Stadium in Belfast at midday shows eight changes to that team, most notable of the absentees are Aoife Wafer, Dorothy Wall and Erin King, the latter two will miss the World Cup. Wafer, Ireland's standout player of the last 12 months, is in a fitness race to make the tournament. The soundings from camp suggest the 22-year-old Wexford woman may not be fit to feature in the opening two Pool C fixtures, against Japan on 24 August and Spain a week later. The New Zealand game on 7 September, is, as is stands, a more likely target. While Bemand stressed that results are secondary in these warm-up games, he'll have been delighted with the final score, 27-21, last weekend and the manner of the comeback from a new-look squad fielding three debutants and settling in four players, including captain Sam Monaghan, back into the fold after injuries. As expected, there are multiple changes to the team for the Ravenhill clash with 10 players coming in. Neve Jones captains the side in the middle of a new front row; Niamh O'Dowd and Linda Djougang come in. Locks Fiona Tuite and Ruth Campbell replace Monaghan and Eimear Corri-Fallon, who both drop to the bench, while the back row remains unchanged. Aoibheann Reilly starts inside Dannah O'Brien, with Enya Breen and Aoife Dalton in midfield. Béibhinn Parsons and Anna McGann form the back-three with full-back Stacey Flood. There'll be a debut off the bench for former England prop Ellena Perry, who won the last of 11 Red Roses caps in 2020. Worryingly, co-captain Edel McMahon misses out with a knee injury although Bemand (below) indicated that it wasn't serious. Coming so close to Monday's squad announcement, however, is far from ideal given Ireland's back row injuries. On whether or not he had the 32-player squad picked yet, the coach said: "If you look at the games, and you look at the preparation phase, we've been together in camp eight weeks over a 10-week period, we're certainly getting much closer to it, where we're well placed now with what we think we need to see. "We've been able to test some combinations. "So also a little bit of Mystic Meg, looking into the future and seeing what could transpire in a competition phase. "We've been able to test some things. So I'm pretty happy. There's always caveats. ☘️ Hannah O'Connor speaks about the return of Ireland co-captain Sam Monaghan following her long lay-off #rtesport Full #RTERugby Pod: 🎧 — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 7, 2025 "Anybody that's followed the Lions will see that that people, the group, is always more than the group that gets on the plane in the first place. "So how we are as a group of getting close to 40 players has been a really important part of our of our preparation, and we continue to be that, "Yes, of course, we're starting to narrow down in terms of personnel and what combinations that we want to see, and we'll see how we pull through this game on the weekend." Canada boss Kevin Rouet has made three changes to his side with Caroline Crossley replacing Gabrielle Senft in the back row. Justine Pelletier starts at scrum-half, while Alysha Corrigan returns to the line-up. "This game against Ireland is one last opportunity to focus on the details of our game and system to make sure we are as prepared as possible for the World Cup," said Rouet, whose side meet Scotland, Wales and Fiji in Pool B. "Ireland will be a tough opponent, they showed that to us last year at WXV so we have to be ready for the challenge. They are a top-five team in the world." This game is all about continued cohesion for Bemand's squad and seeing how they shape up against one of the world's best teams. Staying in the contest, set to be played in a moderate breeze with sunny intervals, for as long as possible would give them a further boost before the real business begins in two weeks' time. Ireland: Stacey Flood; Béibhinn Parsons, Aoife Dalton, Enya Breen; Anna McGann; Dannah O'Brien, Aoibheann Reilly; Niamh O'Dowd, Neve Jones (capt), Linda Djougang; Ruth Campbell, Fiona Tuite, Grace Moore, Ivana Kiripati, Brittany Hogan. Replacements: Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald, Ellena Perry, Sadhbh McGrath, Eimear Corri-Follon, Sam Monaghan, Claire Boles, Emily Lane, Eve Higgins. Canada: Julia Schell; Alysha Corrigan, Florence Symonds, Alexandra Tessier, Paige Farries; Claire Gallagher, Justine Pelletier; McKinley Hunt, Gillian Boag, DaLeaka Menin; Sophie de Goede, Tyson Beukeboom; Karen Paquin, Caroline Crossley, Fabiola Forteza.
RTÉ News
06-08-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
RTÉ Rugby podcast: Lions fail to sweep up, Ireland gear up for World Cup
Michael Glennon is joined by Jonny Holland and Johne Murphy to review Saturday's final Test between the Lions and Australia in Sydney, while Hannah O'Connor is on to discuss Ireland's win over Scotland in the World Cup warm-up. We reviewed all the talking points of the mad-cap dead rubber that turned out to be nothing like a dead rubber as the Wallabies salvaged some pride from the series. The panel give their view on Dan Sheehan's clearout, which led to a three-game band for the Ireland hooker. With Ireland in the middle of a double-header of World Cup warm-up games, we assess where they are in their bid to make a dent in Pool C and beyond.
