Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

16 August 2025; Kathy Baker of Leinster on her way to scoring her side's second try despite the efforts of Munster players Aoife Fleming, left, and Gráinne Burke during the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship Round 2 match between Leinster and M

Women's interprovincial finals: All you need to know

Today sees the 2025 Women's Interprovincial Championships draw to a close with a familiar 'finals day' in Donnybrook. The third-place play-off once again pits Connacht against Ulster, with Munster and Leinster battling it out for silverware.

Rugby • 30 Aug

31 August 2024; Leah Tarpey of Leinster in action against Alana McInerney of Munster during the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship final between Leinster and Munster at the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Women's Interpro's Round 2: All you need to know

Round two of the Women's Interprovincial series promises to be a gripping weekend as we get a repeat of last year's final between Leinster and Munster, while Connacht welcome a strong-looking Ulster squad to Galway.

Rugby • 16 Aug

REPRO FREE ***PRESS RELEASE NO REPRODUCTION FEE*** EDITORIAL USE ONLY 2025 Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship Launch, IRFU High Performance Centre, Dublin 1/8/2025Connacht's Ava Ryder, Munster's Maeve Óg O’Leary, Leinster's Molly Boyne and Ulst

Women's Interpros 2025: All you need to know

The Vodafone Women's Interprovincial series kicks off this afternoon with a double header that sees defending champions Leinster host Ulster at the Energia Stadium and Connacht visit Munster in Cork.

Rugby • 10 Aug

Parsons had suffered a broken leg earlier this year at the Olympic Games in Paris

Parsons a Six Nations doubt after second leg-break

Béibhinn Parsons is set to be a doubt for Guinness Women's Six Nations next year, with the Ireland international suffering a second broken leg in the space of just over four months.

Rugby • 10 Dec 24

Erin King became the first Irish female player to win an individual playing award at the World Rugby Awards

Erin King wins Women's Breakthrough Player of the Year

Ireland's Erin King has been named the Women's Breakthrough Player of the Year at the World Rugby Awards in Monaco.

Rugby • 25 Nov 24

Ireland take on Auatralia this Saturday in Belfast

Hogan: WXV squad places up for grabs v Australia

Ireland assistant Hugh Hogan has called on his side to take their opportunity to impress in this Saturday's Test against Australia in Belfast.

Rugby • 11 Sep 24

Ireland co-captain Sam Monaghan misses out due to injury

Monaghan ruled out of WXV but Sevens stars return

Sam Monaghan has been ruled out of Ireland's WXV campaign next month due to injury, with head coach Scott Bemand naming a 35-player squad for the tournament in Canada, as well as the warm-up Test with Australia in Belfast.

Rugby • 29 Aug 24

The first British and Irish Lions women's tour will take place in New Zealand in 2027

Women's Lions' unions get €3m ahead of inaugural tour

British insurance and investment firm Royal London has given the rugby unions of Ireland, Engand, Wales and Scotland €3m to invest in female coaches and players ahead of the British and Irish Lions women's inaugural tour.

Rugby • 16 Apr 24

Bemand: Top three finish Ireland's target in Women's 6N

Ireland coach Scott Bemand says qualification for the 2025 Rugby World Cup is the number one priority, ahead of the Guinness Women's Six Nations which gets under way later this month.

Rugby • 07 Mar 24

The inaugural Lions Women's tour will commence in 2027

Merit alone to dictate women's Lions selection in 2027

The British and Irish Lions insist merit alone will dictate selection for their first women's tour despite England's dominance of the sport.

Rugby • 16 Jan 24

Humphreys has been working as director of performance operations at the England and Wales Cricket Board since February

5 major tasks facing Humphreys in his new IRFU role

Neil Treacy looks at the key challenges David Humphreys will face when he replaces David Nucifora as IRFU performance director next year.

Rugby • 03 Nov 23

Sam Monaghan will start in the second row for Ireland

Monaghan and McMahon start for Ireland against Colombia

Ireland Women's head coach Scott Bemand has named a strong starting XV for Saturday's second round of the WXV3 against Colombia at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai.

Rugby • 19 Oct 23

Edel McMahon will win her 22nd Ireland cap on Friday

New Ireland co-captain McMahon happy to share the load

New Ireland co-captain Edel McMahon looks ahead to their opening WXV3 game against Kazakhstan.

Rugby • 12 Oct 23

Ireland take on Kazakhstan in their opening game on Friday

Bemand: WXV3 a chance to 'get the plane off the runway'

Ireland women's coach Scott Bemand says the upcoming WXV3 campaign will be an opportunity to "get the plane off the runway" as they go in search of qualification for the next Rugby World Cup in 2025.

Rugby • 11 Oct 23

Hannah O'Connor's Blackrock College take on Old Belvedere

Leinster stars clash in Energia AIL Dublin derby

Just two weeks after guiding Leinster to Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship glory, Tania Rosser and Hannah O'Connor are on opposing sides in today's big Dublin derby that kicks off the Energia All-Ireland League season.

Rugby • 16 Sep 23

Bemand helped England to six Six Nations titles and two World Cup finals during his time with the Red Roses

IRFU appoint Bemand as women's XV head coach

Scott Bemand has been appointed head coach of the Ireland women's XV, with the Englishman agreeing a three-year contract with the IRFU.

Rugby • 27 Jul 23

Fryday won 34 caps for Ireland since making her debut in 2016

Ireland captain Fryday retires from Test rugby

The rebuild of Irish women's rugby has suffered another significant blow, with senior XV captain Nichola Fryday confirming her retirement from Test rugby.

Rugby • 21 Jul 23

McWilliams won three of his 12 games in charge

IRFU confirms departure of women's coach McWilliams

The IRFU has confirmed the departure of women's head coach Greg McWilliams after less than 18 months in charge.

Rugby • 05 May 23

Greg McWilliams will help coach the Combined Provinces XV

IRFU announce women's Combined Provinces XV competition

The IRFU have announced that, in partnership with the WRU and the SRU, they have created a pilot Celtic Challenge competition as preparation for the 2023 TikTok Six Nations Championships.

Rugby • 21 Dec 22

New Zealand take on Wales, who they beat 56-12 in the pool stage

England, NZ plot collision course in World Cup quarters

While most eyes will be on England and New Zealand as they chart a course to meet in the Women's World Cup final, the clash between France and Italy could end up being the pick of this weekend's four quarter-finals.

Rugby • 28 Oct 22

The IRFU has offered 37 professional XVs rugby contracts

Jackman: Contract 'flexibility' will help Ireland women

Bernard Jackman believes it's "understandable" that some Irish women's rugby internationals have turned down contract offers and hopes they remain part of the team.

Rugby • 27 Oct 22

David Nucifora has been Irish rugby's performance director since 2014

Nucifora: Eight women's players turned down contracts

IRFU performance director David Nucifora has confirmed that eight women's players have turned down professional contracts from the union.

Rugby • 27 Oct 22

Neve Jones has cemented her place as Ireland's first choice hooker this season

Jones staying quiet on contract after 'tough decision'

Ireland hooker Neve Jones says she has spoken to the IRFU about a proposed playing contract with Irish rugby, but is staying silent on whether or not she is signing on the dotted line.

Rugby • 27 Oct 22

England are heavy favourites for the World Cup after a comprehensive Six Nations Grand Slam

Expectation rather than hope for England at World Cup

While most teams at the women's Rugby World Cup will arrive with various levels of hope, England will fully expect to cruise to the final and another probable showdown with New Zealand, the only side who look capable of beating them.

Rugby • 07 Oct 22

Briggs steps up from her role as assistant coach in last season's title win

Briggs named Munster coach for Interpro championship

Munster have confirmed the appointment of Niamh Briggs as head coach for the 2022/23 Women's Interprovincial Championship.

Rugby • 28 Sep 22

Womens Rugby

Women's interprovincial finals: All you need to know

Women's Interpro's Round 2: All you need to know

Women's Interpros 2025: All you need to know

Parsons a Six Nations doubt after second leg-break

Erin King wins Women's Breakthrough Player of the Year

Hogan: WXV squad places up for grabs v Australia

Monaghan ruled out of WXV but Sevens stars return

Women's Lions' unions get €3m ahead of inaugural tour

Bemand: Top three finish Ireland's target in Women's 6N

Merit alone to dictate women's Lions selection in 2027

5 major tasks facing Humphreys in his new IRFU role

Monaghan and McMahon start for Ireland against Colombia

New Ireland co-captain McMahon happy to share the load

Bemand: WXV3 a chance to 'get the plane off the runway'

Leinster stars clash in Energia AIL Dublin derby

IRFU appoint Bemand as women's XV head coach

Ireland captain Fryday retires from Test rugby

IRFU confirms departure of women's coach McWilliams

IRFU announce women's Combined Provinces XV competition

England, NZ plot collision course in World Cup quarters

Jackman: Contract 'flexibility' will help Ireland women

Nucifora: Eight women's players turned down contracts

Jones staying quiet on contract after 'tough decision'

Expectation rather than hope for England at World Cup

Briggs named Munster coach for Interpro championship