Ireland women's national rugby union team

History

Early years

The Irish Women's Rugby Football Union was established in 1992. Ireland made their international debut on 14 February 1993 with an away friendly against . This was also Scotland's first international. The match was played at Raeburn Place in front of a crowd of over 1,000. The Ireland team was coached by Alain Rolland while the Scotland coaches included Sandy Carmichael. Scotland won 10–0 with two tries from their captain, Sandra Colamartino. Ireland's first captain was Jill Henderson. A year later, on 14 February 1994, Ireland made their home international debut when a return match was played at Ravenhill. This time Scotland won 5–0. In 2001 the IWRFU became affiliated to the Irish Rugby Football Union, in 2008 it effectively merged with the IRFU and since 2009 the IRFU has managed the women's national team.

Rugby World Cup

Ireland have competed in every Women's Rugby World Cup since making their debut in the second tournament in 1994. They made their World Cup debut on 13 April 1994 with an 18–5 win against a Scottish Students XV. This was also Ireland's first competitive match in any competition.

Ireland's best performance at a World Cup tournament came in 2014 when they finished fourth after defeating New Zealand and winning Pool B. After defeating the United States 23–17 in their opening pool game, Ireland faced New Zealand, the 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup winners in their second game. With tries from Heather O'Brien and Alison Miller and two conversions and a penalty from Niamh Briggs, Ireland defeated New Zealand 17–14. It was just the second match New Zealand had lost in a World Cup tournament. It was the first time the Ireland women had played New Zealand and they became only the second Irish team, after Munster in 1978, to defeat a New Zealand national rugby union team. The result has been described as "one of the biggest upsets in the tournament's history". Ireland subsequently qualified for the semi-finals with a 40–5 win against Kazakhstan. Ireland eventually finished fourth in the tournament after losing 18–25 to in the third place play-off.

They failed to qualify for the 2022 Rugby World Cup, after ending in third place of the qualifying round of September 2021 in Italy.

Six Nations Championship

Ireland made their debut in the Women's Six Nations Championship, then known as the Women's Home Nations Championship, in the inaugural 1996 competition. They played their first game against on 21 January 1996. During the 1990s and early 2000s, Ireland never challenged for the championship. They regularly finished in the wooden spoon position at the bottom of the table. Before winning their first championship in 2013, the highest position they ever finished in the competition was third. They did not enter in 2000 and 2001 and were replaced by . When Ireland returned in 2002, the competition became known as the Six Nations for the first time. In 2002 Ireland also suffered their biggest ever defeat when they lost 79–0 to . Ireland won their first Six Nations match in 2005 when they defeated 11–6. Ireland defeated Scotland for the first time on 10 March 2007 with an 18–6 win at Meggetland. In 2009 Ireland defeated France for the first time.

Ireland won their first championship in 2013, winning both a Triple Crown and a Grand Slam at the same time. In their opening match of the campaign, Ireland beat 12–10. Then on 9 February 2013 they defeated for the first time. Alison Miller scored a hat-trick of tries as Ireland won 25–0. On 23 February 2013 they clinched their first Triple Crown with a 30–3 win against Scotland. On 8 March 2013 Ireland effectively won the championship after they defeated France 15–10. It was confirmed the following day after failed to defeat England. Ireland eventually finished four points clear of runners-up France. Ireland secured the Grand Slam with a 6–3 away win against Italy on Saint Patrick's Day. Two penalties from Niamh Briggs gave Ireland their fifth win in a row.

In 2015, Ireland won their second championship and second Triple Crown in three years. They won the championship on points difference over France, after both teams had won four of their five matches. Ireland had to win their final game, against Scotland, by a margin of 27 points or more to win the title and achieved this with a 73–3 win. The result is also Ireland's biggest ever win.

FIRA Women's European Championship

Ireland has also competed in the FIRA Women's European Championship. They first played in the tournament in 1997. Their best performance in this tournament was a third-place finish in 2008. In 2004 they won the Plate competition after defeating 20–12 in the final.

Players

Current squad

Scott Bemand named the final 32 player squad for the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup on 11 August 2025.

Note: The age and number of caps listed for each player is as of 22 August 2025, the first day of the tournament.

Award winners

World Rugby Awards

The following Ireland players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2001:

Six Nations Awards

The following Ireland players have been recognised in the Women's Six Nations Awards since 2020:

Records

Overall

See List of Ireland women's national rugby union team matches ;Full internationals only Correct as of 31 August 2025

World Cup

Six Nations

Head coaches

Honours

• Women's Six Nations Championship
  • Winners: 2013, 2015
• Grand Slam
  • Winners: 2013
• Triple Crown
  • Winners: 2013, 2015
• WXV
  • WXV3 Winners: 2023
• **FIRA Women's European Championship Plate **
  • Winners: 2004

References

References

1. (6 August 2017). "'Women who participated in other traditional 'male' sports used to be regarded as some sort of sexual deviants'". The Irish Independent.
2. (14 February 2018). "Ireland and Scotland celebrate 25 years". scrumqueens.com.
3. (14 February 2018). "Pioneers celebrate 25th anniversary of first Scotland women's international". theoffsideline.com.
4. (14 February 2018). "Women's Teams Reunite To Mark 25th Anniversary". irishrugby.ie.
5. (30 July 2017). "Ireland's new Call". The Irish Independent.
6. (6 August 2014). "Black Ferns lose historic match to Ireland". allblacks.com.
7. (5 August 2014). "Women's Rugby World Cup 2014: Ireland stun four-time champions New Zealand". The Daily Telegraph.
8. (5 August 2014). "Irish women's rugby team record historic win over New Zealand". The Irish Independent.
9. (4 August 2017). "Women's Rugby World Cup: The story so far". rwcwomens.com.
10. (9 August 2014). "Ireland crush Kazakhstan to book World Cup semi-final spot". Raidió Teilifís Éireann.
11. (7 August 2014). "The history makers: behind the scenes with Ireland's women". BBC.
12. (18 August 2014). "France too strong for Ireland in playoffs". emeraldrugby.com.
13. (6 February 2009). "Women Secure First Ever Victory Over France". irishrugby.ie.
14. (9 February 2013). "Miller hat-trick hands Ireland historic win over England". sixnationsrugby.com.
15. (23 February 2013). "Women's Six Nations: Ireland beat Scotland to win Triple Crown". BBC.
16. (23 February 2013). "In pictures: Ireland's women capture first ever Triple Crown". the42.ie.
17. (8 March 2013). "Ireland sink France to close in on RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam". sixnationsrugby.com.
18. (8 March 2013). "Ireland v France – Women's Six Nations Rugby Championship Photos". sportsfile.com.
19. (17 March 2013). "Women's Six Nations: Champions Ireland complete Grand Slam". BBC.
20. (17 March 2013). "Grand Slam Glory For Ireland Women". irishrugby.ie.
21. (17 March 2013). "Narrow win secures Grand Slam for Irish women". The Irish Times.
22. (22 March 2015). "Women's Six Nations: Ireland hammer Scotland to clinch title". BBC.
23. (22 March 2015). "Biggest Ever Win Seals Six Nations Title For Ireland Women". irishrugby.ie.
24. (22 March 2015). "Ireland Women Crowned 6 Nations Champions". leinsterrugby.ie.
25. (11 August 2025). "Wafer and McMahon fit for Ireland World Cup squad".
26. (11 August 2025). "Ireland's Squad Named For Women's Rugby World Cup 2025".
27. "Awards Roll of Honour - World Rugby".
28. (24 November 2024). "Erin King: Irish flanker wins World Rugby women's breakthrough player of the year in Monaco". [[BBC Sport]].
29. "Women's Six Nations Player of the Championship". [[Women's Six Nations Championship.
30. (14 May 2022). "2022 TikTok Women's Six Nations Team of the Championship revealed". [[Women's Six Nations Championship.
31. (16 May 2024). "Revealed: The Fans' 2024 Team of the Championship". [[Women's Six Nations Championship.
32. (28 April 2025). "The 2025 Guinness Women's Six Nations 'Team of The Championship'". [[Women's Six Nations Championship.
33. (19 May 2025). "Aoife Wafer named 2025 Guinness Player of the Championship". [[Women's Six Nations Championship.
34. (30 April 2025). "Vote for your 2025 Try of the Championship!". Six Nations Rugby.
35. "Fixtures & Results".
36. (10 November 2017). "Griggs Appointed Ireland Women's Head Coach". irishrugby.ie.
37. (21 October 2021). "IRFU Update On Ireland Women's Head Coach Position". irishrugby.ie.
38. "Greg McWilliams". irishrugby.ie.
39. "Irish Rugby | Greg McWilliams Vacates Role".
40. "Irish Rugby | Scott Bemand Appointed Ireland Women's Team Head Coach".