Neil Treacy

RTÉ Sport Journalist

21 August 2025; Head coach Scott Bemand speaks to his players in a huddle during an Ireland Women's Rugby squad training session at Towcestrians Sports Club in Towcester, England. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Ireland v Japan: All you need to know

Ireland take on Japan in their opening game of the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 at Franklins Gardens in Northampton. Here's everything you need to know ahead of the Pool C clash.

Rugby • 23 Aug

22 March 2025; Ireland players, from left, Emily Lane, Dannah O'Brien, Eve Higgins and Aoife Dalton before the Women's Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and France at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

How much does Ireland's lack of RWC experience matter?

While only one player in Ireland's squad has experienced a World Cup, half of Scott Bemand's side don't show the scars of 2021 qualifying failure.

Rugby • 23 Aug

20 April 2025; Aoife Wafer of Ireland celebrates scoring a try with team-mates during the Women's Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Wales and Ireland at Rodney Parade in Newport, Wales. Photo by Kian Abdullah/Sportsfile

Bemand under pressure to fill Wafer, King and Wall role

How will Ireland make up the numbers left behind by Aoife Wafer, Erin King and Dorothy Wall?

Rugby • 20 Aug

9 August 2025; Beibhinn Parsons of Ireland and her teammates huddle after the Women's Rugby World Cup warm-up match between Ireland and Canada at Affidea Stadium in Belfast. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Cantwell: Ireland will start fast in World Cup pool

Lynne Cantwell is expecting Ireland to make a fast start at the Women's Rugby World Cup this week, but believes Scott Bemand's side will have one eye on defending champions New Zealand later in the pool.

Rugby • 20 Aug

2 August 2025; British & Irish Lions players, from left, Finlay Bealham, Bundee Aki and Mack Hansen with the series trophy after the third test match between Australia and the British & Irish Lions at Accor Stadium in Sydney, Australia. Photo by Brendan M

Aki: 'I have a newborn child who I haven't met yet'

Bundee Aki has shared the incredible story of how he became a father for the fifth time on the day of the first Lions Test against Australia.

British and Irish Lions • 03 Aug

Five takeaways from a Lions series win in Australia

After eight weeks and 10 games, the British and Irish Lions is over for another four years. Neil Treacy picks out five takeaways from the trip Down Under.

British and Irish Lions • 08 Aug

2 August 2025; Australia head coach Joe Schmidt, left, and British & Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell before the third test match between Australia and the British & Irish Lions at Accor Stadium in Sydney, Australia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Farrell and Schmidt not burdened by series hindsight

In the end, the Test series mismatch turned out to be anything but.

British and Irish Lions • 03 Aug

2 August 2025; Tadhg Beirne of British & Irish Lions celebrates with the series trophy after the third test match between Australia and the British & Irish Lions at Accor Stadium in Sydney, Australia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Third Test 'bittersweet' for player of series Beirne

Two weeks ago, Tadhg Beirne went into the first Lions Test against Australia feeling he needed to repay Andy Farrell's faith in him. Winning the Player of the Series will do that.

British and Irish Lions • 02 Aug

2 August 2025; British & Irish Lions captain Maro Itoje with the series trophy after the third test match between Australia and the British & Irish Lions at Accor Stadium in Sydney, Australia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Farrell left with mix of pride and frustration

Andy Farrell was left to lament the Lions' poor game control as they missed the chance to complete a famous series whitewash against Australia.

British and Irish Lions • 02 Aug

2 August 2025; Tom Curry of British & Irish Lions, left, and Harry Wilson of Australia, 8, tussle during the third test match between Australia and the British & Irish Lions at Accor Stadium in Sydney, Australia. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Wallabies avoid Lions whitewash in tense Sydney washout

If there were any fears for the future of tours in Australia, they were washed away in Sydney as the Wallabies and the British and Irish Lions played out an enthralling final Test, one which the hosts deservedly took 22-12.

British and Irish Lions • 02 Aug