Latest news with #Women'sSixNations
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Harlequins sign Ireland forward Wafer from Leinster
Harlequins have signed Ireland forward Aoife Wafer for the 2025-26 Premiership Women's Rugby season. Wafer, who was recently named the 2025 Women's Six Nations Player of the Championship, will join the club from Leinster after this year's World Cup, which will be held in England between 22 August and 27 September. "I think there comes a stage where you have to test yourself week in and week out against the best in the world," the 22-year-old told BBC Sport. "I can't wait to get involved into because they're just brave, physical and entertaining." Wafer, considered one of the best back-rowers in the world, will be joining an already stacked Harlequins roster which includes Scotland number eight Jade Konkel and Wales flanker Alex Callendar. But Wafer says the calibre of her new team-mates was one of most attractive aspects of the move. "This team is absolutely star-studded, especially in the back row," she added. "I just can't wait to get in and learn from them and kind of try tease a few things out of their brain and make my game better as well. Hopefully I'll be able to help them too." Ireland's Wafer wins player of Women's Six Nations Wafer and Hogan among world's best - King Conversations with the Harlequins head coach Ross Chisolm have centred around her playing six and eight. "You look at the modern-day rugby player and people can play across a number of positions," said Chisolm. "Aoife is a high-quality player; she could probably play predominantly more six and eight but it could give us a nice balance to go 'I think today we need this and tomorrow we need that' it's going to be competitive. "She is in my opinion right up there on the world stage of quality of player, the exciting thing is I still think there is room for growth. "Aoife is 22 years-old, it's crazy to think that she's able to output that ability at that age." Wafer announced her new club in a protective brace as a precaution following a minor leg injury at the end of the Six Nations. Her fitness has become increasingly significant for Ireland following injuries to back rowers Dorothy Wall and Erin King, who will both miss the World Cup. Wafer joked "it feels like the back row jerseys is cursed". "We'll really miss the girls," she said. "The physicality and the energy they bring on the field is something you just you can't get, they're key players for us. But I think it gives an opportunity to other people to really stand up and try kind of fight for a spot. "We've plenty of other players who haven't quite got the chance to get to step up into that back row, so I think it'd be interesting come to the World Cup. But yeah, we'll definitely miss the girls." Ireland face Japan in their World Cup Pool C opener on 24 August before games against Spain on 31 August and holders New Zealand on 7 September. Listen: Sport's Strangest Crimes - Bloodgate Listen to the latest Rugby Union Weekly podcast
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Scotland's Grant joins Harlequins from Saracens
Scotland international Coreen Grant has joined Harlequins from London rivals 27-year-old wing scored 16 tries in 47 appearances across six seasons in north made her international debut in the Women's Six Nations against Italy in 2021."I'm delighted to be signing for Quins this season," she told the Harlequins website., external"The side play a really dynamic, exciting brand of rugby which I'm looking forward to being a part of."I think it will take my game to a whole new level. This is clearly a tight-knit group, so I can't wait to get to know everyone and get started."
RTÉ News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Ireland face Thursday night France clash in 2026 Six Nations opener
Ireland will begin their 2026 Six Nations campaign with a first-ever Thursday night fixture in France. Andy Farrell's side, who finished third in the table in spring, will take on champions France on Thursday, 5 February with a 8.10pm Irish time kick-off. The switch was made to avoid a clash with the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics, which takes place in Milan the following day. The Six Nations did not immediately confirm the venue for the game. Meanwhile, in another new development, there will be only one 'down week' in the tournament, as opposed to the usual two breaks. It will take place after round three. Originally announced in 2023, the removal of one break week is to help the alignment of the new global rugby calendar, which also sees the Women's Six Nations pushed back three weeks, starting in early April. Ireland's second game is at home to Italy on Saturday, 14 February and the 2023 and 2024 winners will be away to England in round three on 21 February. Following the break, Ireland host Wales on Friday, 6 March with a 8.10pm kick-off, while they round off their campaign with the first game of Super Saturday on 14 March. The final game of the Guinness Six Nations will see Les Bleus host England. "In 2025, nearly 130 million fans were watching coverage of the Guinness Men's Six Nations in home markets - a +6.30% increase compared to the previous year - and the set of fixtures for 2026 promises to keep fans hooked for five rounds of sporting entertainment," said tournament organisers. 2026 MEN'S SIX NATIONS FIXTURES Round 1 France v Ireland - Thursday, 5 February (8.10pm) Italy v Scotland - Saturday, 7 February (2.10pm) England v Wales - Saturday, 7 February (4.40pm) Round 2 Ireland v Italy - Saturday, 14 February (2.10pm) Scotland v England - Saturday, 14 February (4.40pm) Wales v France - Sunday, 15 Feburary (3.10pm) Round 3 England v Ireland - Saturday, 21 February (2.10pm) Wales v Scotland - Saturday, 21 February (4.40pm) France v Italy - Sunday, 22 February (3.10pm) Round 4 Ireland v Wales - Friday, 6 March (8.10pm) Scotland v France - Saturday, 7 March (2.10pm) Italy v England - Saturday, 7 March (4.40pm) Round 5 Ireland v Scotland - Saturday, 14 March (2.10pm) Wales v Italy - Saturday, 14 March (4.40pm) France v England - Saturday, 14 March (8.10pm)
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Listen: Edinburgh 'on cusp of breakthrough'?
This week's BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast sees Andy Burke and Tom English at the Hive Stadium in Edinburgh to speak to club veteran Grant Gilchrist before the Challenge Cup semi-final with Bath on and Tom also look back on Scotland's Women's Six Nations victory against Ireland, Glasgow's URC defeat by the Bulls, and ponder whether Finn Russell will get a Lions and subscribe on BBC Sounds
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Injured Ireland flanker Wall ruled out of World Cup
Ireland flanker Dorothy Wall has been ruled out of the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup with an Achilles tendon injury. Wall, 24, sustained the injury during Ireland's final Women's Six Nations game against Scotland last weekend. "I'm devastated to be missing the next couple of months, but my main focus now is on my rehab programme and I'm looking forward to supporting the team in the Rugby World Cup," said Wall. Wall's injury is another significant blow for Ireland after back row Erin King was last week ruled out of the tournament with a serious knee injury. The 2025 World Cup takes place in England between 22 August and 27 September. Ireland, who finished third in the Six Nations, will face Japan, Spain and New Zealand in the pool stage. More to follow.
