Michael Glennon

RTÉ Sport Journalist

7 September 2025; Aoife Wafer of Ireland before the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 Pool C match between New Zealand and Ireland at Brighton and Hove Community Stadium in Falmer, England. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Wafer 'looking really good' and on course for France

Aoife Wafer looks on course to play some part in Ireland's Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-final against France on Sunday as the flanker trained with the squad on Wednesday afternoon.

Rugby • 10 Sep 25

22 March 2025; Aoife Dalton, right, and Eve Higgins of Ireland during the Women's Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and France at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Dalton and Higgins happy to stay centre stage

It's double trouble at the top table at the Ireland press conference in the heart of Exeter on Wednesday afternoon.

Rugby • 11 Sep 25

Ireland's players (front) look on as New Zealand's players perform the Haka

'Wounded' Ireland won't linger on Black Ferns loss

Bernard Jackman doesn't believe that Ireland's World Cup pool defeat to New Zealand will linger long in the system as focus turns to a quarter-final against France.

Rugby • 10 Sep 25

7 September 2025; Eve Higgins of Ireland during the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 Pool C match between New Zealand and Ireland at Brighton and Hove Community Stadium in Falmer, England. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Higgins: Ireland will learn Black Ferns lessons

After drawing a blank for the first time since April 2023, a run spanning 23 games, centre Eve Higgins believes Ireland will learn lessons from their heavy defeat to New Zealand when they take on France on Sunday.

Rugby • 09 Sep 25

7 September 2025; Grace Moore of Ireland is tackled by Tanya Kalounivale and Layla Sae of New Zealand during the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 Pool C match between New Zealand and Ireland at Brighton and Hove Community Stadium in Falmer, England. Photo by

Ratings: Moore best of Irish in New Zealand rout

Ireland suffered a chastening 40-0 defeat to New Zealand in Pool C of the Women's Rugby World Cup. Here's how we rated the players.

Rugby • 07 Sep 25

7 September 2025; New Zealand players celebrate winning a penalty on their own try line during the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 Pool C match between New Zealand and Ireland at Brighton and Hove Community Stadium in Falmer, England. Photo by Harry Murphy/S

Rugby World Cup recap: Ireland 0-40 New Zealand

Relive all the action from Brighton as Ireland took on New Zealand for top spot in Rugby World Cup Pool C.

Rugby • 07 Sep 25

EXETER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 31:New Zealand's Braxton Sorensen-McGee celebrates scoring with New Zealand's Jorja Miller during the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 Pool C match between New Zealand and Japan at Sandy Park on August 31, 2025 in Exeter, England. (Ph

'We deserve respect' - Ferns stars don't faze Ireland

New Zealand have plenty of star power but Edel McMahon insists Ireland won't be singling out any particular threat in Sunday's World Cup Pool C showdown.

Rugby • 05 Sep 25

29 September 2024; Ireland players, including Enya Breen and Aoife Dalton, left, celebrate at the final whistle of the WXV1 Pool match between New Zealand and Ireland at BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia. Photo by Rich Lam / World Rugby via Sportsfi

One year on - How Ireland shocked the Black Ferns

Ireland face New Zealand for the first time since recording a famous win over the world champions last year.

Rugby • 06 Sep 25

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Chelsea Bremner of New Zealand and Edel McMahon of Ireland walk onto the ground before the WXV1 Pool match between New Zealand and Ireland at BC Place on September 29, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo

Ireland v New Zealand: All you need to know

Ireland take on the Black Ferns on Sunday to decide who tops Pool C of the Women's Rugby World Cup - find out all you need to know about the match here.

Rugby • 06 Sep 25

31 August 2025; Dannah O'Brien of Ireland during the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 Pool C match between Ireland and Spain at Franklin's Gardens in Northampton, England. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

O'Brien: Black Ferns tie a 'stepping stone' for Ireland

Dannah O'Brien says that Ireland will use Sunday's Pool C showdown against New Zealand as a "stepping stone" to their World Cup quarter-final.

Rugby • 02 Sep 25