Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

Lack of a killer instinct and small errors cost Ireland

Ireland came agonisingly close to advancing to a World Cup semi-final after losing to France in Exeter. Jonny Holland takes a look back on just where things went wrong for Scott Bemand's side.

Rugby • 16 Sep

8 March 2014; The Ireland team ahead of the game. Women's Six Nations Rugby Championship, Ireland v Italy, Aviva Stadium, Lansdowne Road, Dublin. Picture credit: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE

Ireland Women to play first standalone Test at Aviva

The Ireland Women's rugby team will play their first standalone Test match at the Aviva Stadium next May against Scotland.

Rugby • 12 Sep

7 September 2025; Ireland players, from left, Sadhbh McGrath, Ruth Campbell, Grace Moore, Aoife Dalton and Anna McGann after the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 Pool C match between New Zealand and Ireland at Brighton and Hove Community Stadium in Falmer, En

Bemand backs Ireland to recover from NZ hammering

Scott Bemand doesn't believe Ireland's heavy defeat to New Zealand will have a damaging effect on his side for next week's Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-final against France.

Rugby • 08 Sep

20 April 2025; Aoife Wafer of Ireland in action against Jenni Scoble of Wales 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 'confident' Wafer will be fit for quarter-final

Scott Bemand says Aoife Wafer remains on track to be fit for next weekend's Rugby World Cup quarter-final against either France or South Africa, but Sunday's Pool C decider against New Zealand has come too soon for the back row.

Rugby • 05 Sep

31 August 2025; Ireland head coach Scott Bemand before 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

Bemand has to weigh up risk and rewards of selection

Scott Bemand has come big calls to make in his team to take on New Zealand this Sunday.

Rugby • 04 Sep

31 August 2025; Ireland players, including Anna McGann, left, and Stacey Flood, centre, celebrate their second try scored by Amee Leigh Costigan, hidden, during the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 Pool C match between Ireland and Spain at Franklin's Gardens

Bemand thrilled after Ireland secure early QF spot

Scott Bemand insists Ireland are right where they need to be at the Women's Rugby World Cup, after they secured their quarter-final spot with a game to spare following this afternoon's 43-27 win against Spain in Northampton.

Rugby • 31 Aug

No complacency for Spain selection, insists Bemand

Scott Bemand has dismissed suggestions he has one eye on New Zealand ahead of Sunday's Rugby World Cup Pool C clash with Spain on Sunday.

Rugby • 29 Aug

24 August 2025; Cliodhna Moloney Macdonald of Ireland evades the tackle of Japan players Megumi Abe, left, and Minori Yamamoto during the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 Pool C match between Ireland and Japan at Franklin's Gardens in Northampton, England. Ph

Bemand rotates as Ireland make seven changes for Spain

Scott Bemand has shuffled his deck ahead of Sunday's crucial Rugby World Cup Pool C meeting with Spain, after making seven changes to his side for the game at Franklin's Gardens.

Rugby • 29 Aug

NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 24: General views during the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 Pool C match between Ireland and Japan at Franklin's Gardens on August 24, 2025 in Northampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Sam Mellish/Getty Images)

Bemand: We got out of the game what we wanted

Scott Bemand said Ireland got what they wanted from the opening Rugby World Cup gambit as they recorded a 42-14 victory over Japan.

Rugby • 24 Aug

2 August 2025; Ireland players stand for the national anthem ahead of the Women's Rugby World Cup warm-up match between Ireland and Scotland at Virgin Media Park in Cork. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Green light for the green wave as Ireland set sail

Ireland completed their final training session before travelling to England for the World Cup with no issues.

Rugby • 14 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

Bemand: We wanted a high-stakes challenge

Scott Bemand says he won't blame rustiness for Ireland's first-half performance against Canada but stopped short of claiming it was "unacceptable".

Rugby • 09 Aug

2 August 2025; Ireland head coach Scott Bemand exits the tunnel to inspect the pitch before the Women's Rugby World Cup warm-up match between Ireland and Scotland at Virgin Media Park in Cork. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Bemand delighted as Ireland refuse to panic

Scott Bemand said he was delighted how Ireland responded to going behind early against Scotland as they began their World Cup warm-up campaign with victory.

Rugby • 02 Aug

30 July 2025; Nancy McGillivray during an Ireland Women Rugby squad training session at the IRFU High Performance Centre in Dublin. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Bemand targets 'momentum' in World Cup warm-ups

While top level sport is all about results, Scott Bemand is fully aware of the bigger picture at play.

Rugby • 01 Aug

Aoife Wafer of Ireland before the Women's Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and France at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast.

Wafer 'tracking well' as Ireland up gears ahead of WC

Scott Bemand says Aoife Wafer will be given every chance to make the Ireland World Cup squad as the star forward battles back from a knee injury.

Rugby • 31 Jul

27 March 2025; Alma Atagamen during an Ireland Women's Rugby squad training session at the IRFU High Performance Centre in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Bemand names Irish preparation squad for World Cup

Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has revealed his 37-player preparation squad for the Women's Rugby World Cup in England in August and September.

Rugby • 29 May

Scott Bemand addresses the squad huddle after the game in Newport

Bittersweet for Bemand despite emphatic win in Wales

Room for improvement was the verdict of Ireland head coach following his side's comprehensive 40-14 victory over Wales in Sunday's Guinness Women's Six Nations encounter in Newport.

Rugby • 21 Apr

Edel McMahon returns to captain Ireland this week

McMahon returns as Ireland make five changes for Wales

Edel McMahon and Enya Breen have both recovered from injury, with Ireland head coach Scott Bemand making five changes to his side for Sunday's Guinness Women's Six Nations meeting with Wales in Newport.

Rugby • 18 Apr

Johnny Sexton is joining the IRFU on a full-time basis this summer

Bemand not yet sure of Sexton involvement for RWC

Scott Bemand says he's unclear right now that involvement Johnny Sexton will have with his Ireland women's squad ahead of the Rugby World Cup this summer.

Rugby • 18 Apr

Amee-Leigh Costigan captained Ireland against England

'It's so evident' - Costigan proud of improving Ireland

Amee-Leigh Costigan believes Ireland's confidence has only grown further, despite Saturday's 49-5 defeat to England in Cork.

Rugby • 14 Apr

Morwenna Talling scores England's opening try

Bemand: We will learn a lot from England experience

Scott Bemand has backed his side to learn from their chastening second half experience against England in Cork, as they target two more wins in their Guinness Six Nations campaign.

Rugby • 12 Apr

Amee-Leigh Costigan will captain Ireland against England

Costigan captains Ireland as Bemand makes three changes

Amee-Leigh Costigan will captain Ireland, as Scott Bemand makes three changes to his side for Saturday's Guinness Women's Six Nations meeting with England in Cork (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).

Rugby • 10 Apr

Ireland can beat England, insists Bemand

If Scott Bemand wants a yardstick for how much this Ireland team have changed in the last 12 months, Saturday in Cork should provide it for him.

Rugby • 10 Apr

Ireland were beaten 88-10 by England at Twickenham last year

Bemand: Ireland won't be overawed by England

Scott Bemand insists that Ireland will not be overawed by the challenge facing them in Saturday's Guinness Women's Six Nations meeting with England in Cork.

Rugby • 10 Apr

Ireland's players celebrate their win in Italy

Bemand: Dominant win makes up for previous Parma pain

Scott Bemand believes Ireland have gone some way to banishing their Parma demons, after a 54-12 hammering of Italy in the Guinness Women's Six Nations.

Rugby • 30 Mar

Ireland squad in good health ahead of Italian job

Ireland head coach Scott Bemand will have close to a full squad to pick from for Sunday's Guinness Women's Six Nations meeting with Italy in Parma, with no major injury worries from last week's opener against France.

Rugby • 27 Mar