The Ireland women's national rugby union team represents Ireland in international women's rugby union competitions such as the Women's Six Nations Championship and the Women's Rugby World Cup. They have also represented Ireland in the FIRA Women's European Championship. Ireland won the 2013 and 2015 Women's Six Nations Championships. In 2013 they also achieved both a Triple Crown and Grand Slam. They finished fourth in the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup after defeating New Zealand in the pool stages. Ireland hosted the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup. The team was part of the by the Irish Women's Rugby Football Union (IWRFU). In 2009, the women were taken on by the Irish Rugby Football Union.

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

See List of Ireland women's national rugby union players

Current squad Training Squad for WXV Global Series. PlayerPositionDate of BirthClub/ProvinceJemima Adams-VerlingLock11 July 2006 Connacht RugbySophie BarrettFlanker27 January 2004 Ulster RugbyBeth ButtimerHooker18 August 2005 Munster RugbyEilís CahillProp15 January 2002 Munster RugbyRuth CampbellFlanker27 June 2003 Leinster RugbyJane ClohessyFlanker28 December 1998 Munster RugbyLinda DjougangProp17 May 1996 Leinster RugbyBrittany HoganFlanker19 September 1998 Sale SharksNeve JonesHooker26 December 1998 Gloucester–HartpuryKate JordanLock Leinster RugbyErin KingFlanker21 October 2003 Leinster RugbySadhbh McGrathProp30 August 2004 Ulster RugbyCliodhna Moloney-MacDonaldHooker31 May 1993 Exeter ChiefsSam MonaghanLock25 June 1993 Gloucester–HartpuryGrace MooreFlanker21 May 1996 Munster RugbyNiamh O'DowdProp21 April 2000 Gloucester–HartpuryFiona Tuite O'SullivanLock27 December 1996 Ulster RugbyAilish QuinnFlanker25 May 2006 Connacht RugbyAoife WaferFlanker25 March 2003 HarlequinsDorothy WallFlanker4 May 2000 Exeter ChiefsEnya BreenCentre23 April 1999 Munster RugbyAoife DaltonCentre3 May 2003 Leinster RugbyVicky Elmes KinlanCentre21 February 2003 Leinster RugbyCaitríona FinnFly Half4 June 2006 Munster RugbyStacey FloodFly Half5 August 1996 Leinster RugbyNiamh GallagherFull Back22 November 2005 TrailfindersEve HigginsCentre23 June 1999 Leinster RugbyEmily LaneScrum Half10 January 1999 Munster RugbyLucia LinnCentre13 July 2005 Munster RugbyAnna McGannWing4 June 1998 Connacht RugbyAlana McInerneyWing22 June 2001 Munster RugbyRobyn O'ConnorFull Back15 July 2005 Leinster RugbyDannah O'BrienFly Half22 September 2003 Leinster RugbyBéibhinn ParsonsWing30 November 2001 Connacht RugbyAoibheann ReillyScrum Half1 November 2000 Connacht RugbyKatie WhelanScrum Half27 February 2003 Leinster Rugby

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

+ World Rugby Player of the Year Year Nominees Winners 2014 Niamh Briggs — 2015 Sophie Spence

+ World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year Year Nominees Winners 2024 Erin King Erin King

+ World Rugby Dream Team of the Year Year Players 2024 6. Aoife Wafer

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

+ Six Nations Team of the Championship Year Forwards Backs Total Players Players 2022 1. Linda Djougang 13. Eve Higgins 4 2. Neve Jones 5. Sam Monaghan 2023 — 0 2024 2. Neve Jones (2) — 2 6. Aoife Wafer 2025 2. Neve Jones (3) 12. Aoife Dalton 3 6. Aoife Wafer (2) 2026 6. Erin King 12. Aoife Dalton (2) 3 6. Aoife Wafer (3)

+ Six Nations Player of the Championship Year Nominees Winners 2024 Aoife Wafer — 2025 Aoife Wafer (2) Aoife Wafer 2026 Aoife Wafer (3) Aoife Wafer (2)

+ Six Nations Try of the Championship Year Nominee Match Winner 2025 Anna McGann vs. Italy — 2026 Béibhinn Parsons vs. Italy

Records

Overall See List of Ireland women's national rugby union team matches Full internationals only Correct as of 31 August 2025 Against First game Played Won Drawn Lost Win % 1998 5 2 0 3 % 2002 5 1 0 4 % 2023 1 1 0 0 100.00% 1996 33 2 0 31% 1993 33 3 1 29 % 1997 3 3 0 0 100.00% 1997 24 20 0 4 % 1994 8 6 0 2 % 1998 6 3 0 3 % 1998 3 3 0 0 100.00% 2014 3 2 0 1 66.67% 2002 1 0 0 1 0.00% 1993 35 17 0 18 % 2006 1 1 0 0 100.00% 1997 12 6 0 6 % 1994 9 4 0 5 % 1996 33 15 0 18 % Total 1993 215 89 1 125 %

World Cup

Six Nations

Head coaches Coach Years Alain Rolland 1993 Johnnie Neary 1998 Philip Doyle 2003–2006 John O'Sullivan 2006–2008 Steven Hennessy 2009–2010 Kevin West 2010–2012 Philip Doyle 2012–2014 Tom Tierney 2014–2017 Adam Griggs 2017–2021 Greg McWilliams 2021–2023 Scott Bemand 2023–

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