The world knows – the Irish have come on in leaps and bounds in the past two years. The central question is whether they can overcome a series of injury doubts and setbacks to do themselves justice. (full list below) Their recent record at the RWC is none too promising. Their performance in their own
The result looks like a runaway win for the visitors, but the coaches won’t see it that way. Both will have concerns. Kevin Rouet will be asking what happened to his side for long stretches of the second half. Ireland registered three tries to add to an early success. For Scott Bemand the concerns run
The newly sponsored Affidea Stadium in Belfast (formerly the Kingspan) will host a big game between nations aiming to go a very long way in the World Cup. Scott Bemand has made ten changes to the last side he put out: 15 FLOOD 14 PARSONS 13 DALTON 12 BREEN 11 McGANN 10 O’BRIEN 9 REILLY
Neither side will be satisfied with the game, but Ireland righted the wrong of their loss in Edinburgh last April. Astonishingly this was their first match since then, and it showed at the start. Scotland, playing with confidence, moved into a 14-0 lead. Lisa Thomson completed strong pressure to force her way over. She was
News that Aoife Wafer’s knee injury makes it unlikely she will recover in time for the World Cup is disastrous for her and her nation. Even the knock-out stages in eight weeks’ time make a full recovery highly unlikely. With this latest misfortune Ireland lose a third vital member of the back five. We already
Two training squads announced Within 24 hours both Bryan Easson and Scott Bemand have named their training squads for the coming 2025 RWC. The good news includes the names of much missed players returning to duty from injury. In particular, Emma Wassell for Scotland and Sam Monaghan and Beibhinn Parsons for Ireland. For Ireland Sarah
14th May marks a large stepping-stone towards big events in England. Here are the fixtures awaiting them: England 1. USA 2. Samoa 3. Australia – Pool A Ireland 1. Japan 2. Spain 3. New Zealand – Pool C Scotland 1. Wales 2. Fiji 3. Canada – Pool B Wales 1. Scotland 2. Canada 3. Fiji
The Hive, Edinburgh Somehow the Scots salvaged a win that they hardly deserved, and could move into the break before the World Cup with confidence restored. For the Irish this was a reverse they could not have expected. At least it was by a hair’s breadth. They have plenty still going for them. For much
Wales v Ireland – Six Nations, Round Four Rodney Parade, Newport Sunshine greeted the teams as Wales sought redemption. Could they possibly hold the soaring Irish in check? Not at the start. Lisa Neumann lost possession on contact, and the Irish backs were happy to spread the ball to Amee-Leigh Costigan on the wide left.
Ritu Moni sealed a stunning two-wicket victory for Bangladesh over Ireland in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 Qualifier in Lahore. This means Bangladesh now have two wins from two, while Ireland have been on the wrong end of three narrow defeats. Orla Prendergast’s all-round performance looked set to hand Ireland a first win
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