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Irish Daily Mirror
02-08-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ireland v Scotland Rugby World Cup warm-up streaming details and team news
Eve Higgins knows what World Cup selection would mean after such a long wait to play on the biggest stage. Higgins was a teenager when Ireland last competed at the highest level - when they hosted the World Cup in 2017 - and she was part of the training panel in the run-up before watching on as a fan. Ireland subsequently missed out on qualification for the 2021 finals in New Zealand as the Lucan woman established herself as a Sevens and XVs player for her country, and she has been involved in two Sevens World Cups as well as last year's Paris Olympics. Now established at centre in Scott Bemand's side, the 26-year-old is eagerly contemplating Monday week's squad selection for the finals in England. "It would be absolutely huge," said Higgins. "I think I was 17, going on 18, being involved with the last World Cup prep in 2017 and to be around those girls, and seeing them go and represent Ireland in a home World Cup was huge. "Hopefully I get the opportunity to do that. I'd absolutely love it, it would be a dream come true. They don't come around that often, they're every four years, and again, hard to qualify for. So it'd be hugely special for myself and my family." Higgins, like the rest of the matchday squad selected for today's first warm-up game against Scotland - they face Canada in Belfast next weekend - wants to put her best foot forward after an intensive training ground build-up over the summer months. Where is the game taking place? The first warm-up game is at Virgin Media Park in Cork. What time is kick-off? The game kicks off this afternoon at 2pm. Where can I watch it? The match isn't being shown live on terrestrial TV but it can be streamed here on IrishRugby+, on the BBC Player for UK and NI viewers and on Rugby Pass TV for rest of the world viewers Betting odds Ireland are 1/5 to win, Scotland are 4/1 to win, the draw is 20/1 Represent "We're all here for one reason, we all want to represent our country in the World Cup and obviously selection is only around the corner," she said. "It's a huge opportunity this weekend and next to put your hand up for selection and then to show what we've done through the whole summer, all the prep we've done, all the hard work we've put in, and finally, we get an opportunity to do that this weekend against Scotland and next weekend against Canada. "So yeah, obviously it's in the back of everyone's minds, but at the end of the day we all want to just show what we've improved and what we've worked on." The primary thing the players want to show is the cohesion that Higgins feels is there within the group. Ireland will have to adjust without injured stars Erin King and Dorothy Wall at the World Cup, and make do during the build-up and, probably, the early stages of the finals without the highly influential Aoife Wafer. Bemand has named two debutants in the line-up for today's encounter - Ivana Kiripati and Nancy McGillivray - with Ailish Quinn set for her Test bow off the bench. Co-captain Sam Monaghan and try machine Béibhinn Parsons play their first Test games of 2025 after returning from long term injury. "We're all really excited for everyone to see what Ivana, Nancy and Ailish can do, because they've come seamlessly into this group," said Higgins. "Ivana has been around us for a long time now, and everyone's so happy to see that she's getting an opportunity now to put the green jersey on. "The same with Nancy and Ailish, they've come in this summer and have been absolutely brilliant in training and everyone's very excited to see those few girls represent the country for their first time. "Then to welcome Sam and Beibhinn back this weekend, that's huge. All of us have seen the amount of work that both of them have gone through and put through in the gym over the last year, pretty much and we're all very excited to finally get to see them in green again." Ireland: Méabh Deely; Béibhinn Parsons, Nancy McGillivray, Eve Higgins, Amee-Leigh Costigan; Dannah O'Brien, Molly Scuffil-McCabe; Siobhán McCarthy, Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald, Sadhbh McGrath; Eimear Corri-Fallon, Sam Monaghan (capt); Grace Moore, Ivana Kiripati, Brittany Hogan. Replacements: Neve Jones, Niamh O'Dowd, Linda Djougang, Fiona Tuite, Deirbhile Nic a Bháird, Ailish Quinn, Emily Lane, Enya Breen. Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
Otago Daily Times
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Former Otago star Brazier set for international return at 35
If you are good enough, you are young enough. Former Otago star Kelly Brazier is making an international comeback — sort of — at the age of 35. Brazier was yesterday named in a 33-strong Black Ferns squad for a trial game against their second-stringers and the test against Australia next month. The 42-test veteran has not played for the Black Ferns in the 15-a-side game since 2021. To be fair, though, she has not been far from the big stage. Brazier has been a long-time member of the national sevens squad, winning bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and silver at the Sevens World Cup the same year. They added to her jaw-dropping trophy haul that includes two Sevens World Cups, two Women's Rugby World Cups, Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medals, and seven World Series sevens titles. Brazier, a crafty first or second five, made her Super Rugby Aupiki comeback with Chiefs Manawa this year. She was born and raised in Dunedin, attending Otago Girls' High School. She famously scored a record 64 points (10 tries and seven conversions) for Alhambra-Union in a club game, and she holds the Farah Palmer Cup record for the 45 points she scored for the Otago Spirit against Hawke's Bay in 2012. Brazier, who has two children with wife Tahlia, was named at second five in the World Rugby women's team of the 2010-19 decade. She has some serious pedigree on the rugby field. Ruahei Demant and Hannah King are the incumbent first fives, and there are some strong options in midfield, but Brazier has the sort of experience that cannot easily be matched. There are four changes in the Black Ferns squad from the Pacific Four series. Matatu lock Laura Bayfield and Chiefs Manawa loose forward Mia Anderson will hope to make their test debuts, while experienced fullback Renee Holmes is recalled alongside Brazier. Bayfield, who played for the inaugural Black Ferns XV in 2023, had a big impact in her first Aupiki season, while Anderson has come back from maternity leave. Co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu, Kaipo Olsen-Baker and Mererangi Paul are unavailable due to injury, so Alana Bremner steps into the co-captaincy role alongside Demant. Black Ferns coach Allan Bunting said selections were based on consistency. 'At this stage of our World Cup journey, internal competition has been intense and selections are getting tougher as our wider squad have put in the work," Bunting said. "Renee has come back and shown real growth, Kelly gives us experience and depth at 10 adding to our kicking game, while Mia and Laura have consistently been impressive." All members of the Black Ferns squad will play in the trial game against the Black Ferns XV in Whangarei on Saturday. King, Bayfield and halfback Iritana Hohaia will play for the second-stringers before rejoining the Black Ferns for the test against Australia in Wellington on July 12. Black Ferns The squad Props: Chryss Viliko, Kate Henwood, Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, Tanya Kalounivale, Amy Rule, Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu. Hookers: Georgia Ponsonby, Atlanta Lolohea, Vici-Rose Green. Locks: Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Alana Bremner, Maama Mo'onia Vaipulu, Chelsea Bremner, Laura Bayfield. Loose forwards: Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, Layla Sae, Jorja Miller, Mia Anderson. Halfbacks: Maia Joseph, Iritana Hohaia, Risaleaana Pouri-Lane. First fives: Ruahei Demant, Hannah King, Kelly Brazier. Midfielders: Sylvia Brunt, Amy du Plessis, Stacey Waaka, Theresa Setefano. Outside backs: Katelyn Vahaakolo, Ayesha Leti-I'iga, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, Renee Holmes, Braxton Sorensen-McGee.
