Green jerseys at the ready as the Women's Rugby World Cup is upon us, and we could not be more excited!
The Irish women's team is about to play their third pool game of the tournament, with the side taking on New Zealand on Sunday.
As the campaign heats up, here's everything you need to know to cheer on the girls in green this Women's Rugby World Cup season...
Ireland's warm-up games
Ireland played two warm-up games before the World Cup campaign truly got underway, with the team taking on Scotland and Canada.
The first game against Scotland happened on Saturday, August 2, at Virgin Media Park in Cork, with Ireland securing a 27-21 win.
The second warm-up game happened on Saturday, August 9, at Ulster Rugby Stadium in Belfast with Canada winning 26-47.
While these two matches were only warm-ups, player Edel McMahon said they were very important to get the team ready.
She said: 'For the warm-up games, it’s about some players getting back on the field and getting that confidence again, looking at different combinations.
'It’s about us as a squad knowing what we need to get out of the games to give us momentum going into the World Cup.'
When are Ireland's World Cup matches?
Ireland is in Pool C for the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup, and their first match was on August 24 when the team played Japan.
Ireland won 42-14 against Japan and 43-27 against Spain, so it's been a very strong start to the competition for the Green Wave!
Ireland's three pool matches were as follows:
- Sunday 24 August 2025 (pool C) Ireland v Japan 12pm
- Sunday 31 August 2025 (pool C) Ireland v Spain 12pm
- Sunday 7 September 2025 (pool C) Ireland v New Zealand 2.45pm
Ireland's first two matches were played at Franklin's Gardens in Northampton, while their third (the meeting with New Zealand) will happen at Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium in Brighton and Hove.
When do the pool games finish?
The pool stages of the World Cup are set to end on September 7. By then, we'll know who is playing who in the quarter-finals.
When is the Women's Rugby World Cup final?
Saturday 27 September is the big date for your diary. On this day, there'll be two finals played, both at Twickenham Stadium in London.
At 12.30pm, the runners-up of semi-final one and two will play each other in the bronze final, and then at 4pm, the winners of semi-final one and two will play each other.
Who is playing in the Women's Rugby World Cup?
16 countries are taking part in the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup across four pools.
- Pool A is England, Australia, the USA, and Samoa.
- Pool B is Canada, Scotland, Wales, and Fiji.
- Pool C is New Zealand, Ireland, Japan, and Spain.
- Pool D is France, Italy, South Africa, and Brazil.
Who's in Ireland's team for the World Cup?
The forwards named on the Ireland team for the World Cup are: Claire Boles, Beth Buttimer, Ruth Campbell, Eimear Corri Fallon, Linda Djougang, Brittany Hogan, Neve Jones, Ivana Kiripati, Siobhán McCarthy, Sadhbh McGrath, Edel McMahon, Clíodhna Moloney MacDonald, Sam Monaghan, Grace Moore, Niamh O’Dowd, Ellena Perry, Fiona Tuite, and Aoife Wafer.
The backs on the team are: Enya Breen, Amee Leigh Costigan, Aoife Dalton, Méabh Deely, Stacey Flood, Nicole Fowley, Eve Higgins, Emily Lane, Anna McGann, Nancy McGillivray, Dannah O’Brien, Béibhinn Parsons, Aoibheann Reilly, and Molly Scuffil-McCabe.
New member of the squad Ellena Perry made her Ireland debut after switching allegiance from England to Ireland in the second warm-up.
Where is the World Cup being held?
The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup is being hosted in England, with games happening around the country.
While Ireland’s pool matches will be played in Northampton and Brighton, other games are set for Sunderland, Manchester, York, and Exeter.
Once the quarter-finals roll around, there'll also be games played at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol and by the final, Twickenham Stadium in London will also host matches.
How can you watch the games?
You can watch all the matches live on RTÉ2, BBC Two Northern Ireland, and the BBC iPlayer.
Jacqui Hurley is leading RTÉ’s TV coverage of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, with reporting from the Irish camp by Clare MacNamara.
*This article was originally published on Evoke.ie.
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