Ireland return to Franklin's Gardens on Sunday as they take on Spain in their next Pool C clash of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Here’s everything you need to know about Ireland’s second opponents at the tournament.
How did the teams fare last weekend?
Scott Bemand’s Ireland squad got their campaign off to a perfect start, running out 42-14 winners over Japan last Sunday.
Six tries from Amee-Leigh Costigan, Neve Jones, Béibhinn Parsons, Fiona Tuite, Eve Higgins and Enya Breen, plus six conversions from Dannah O’Brien, helped the Girls in Green to a bonus-point victory.
Spain fell to a heavy defeat at the hands of the Black Ferns in their opening game. The New Zealanders ran in eight tries to Spain's one in a comfortable 54-8 victory.
When is this game?
Kick-off is at midday, and it is live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player, with live radio commentary on 2fm.
How is the pool shaping up?
Wins for Ireland and New Zealand on Sunday would see both sides progress to the quarter-finals with a game to spare.
Have these teams played before?
Ireland and Spain last met during the early weeks of Bemand's tenure. At WXV3 in 2023, Ireland pipped Las Leonas 15-13 to claim the title that day.
More memorably, Spain claimed a famous 8-7 win over Ireland during the 2021 Women's Rugby World Cup qualifiers.
Spain also competed in the Six Nations from 2000 to 2006, finishing ahead of Ireland on three occasions.
Hannah O'Connor says Spain have earned Ireland's respect ahead of their Rugby World Cup pool clash this Sunday #RTErugby pic.twitter.com/MWwYuBOZRL
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 27, 2025
How good are Spain now?
Spain are currently ranked 13th in the world, two spots behind Japan, and eight behind Ireland.
Spain’s WXV form has improved over the two iterations of the end-of-year competition.
They had to settle for third spot after that loss to Ireland in 2023, however they got their hands on the WXV3 trophy in 2024, recording wins over Madagascar, the Netherlands and Fiji.
Having been offered six-month professional contracts in order to prepare for this tournament, Spain have played nine Test matches this year.
They won the first four but are on a five-game slide, which includes a 97-7 defeat to England in the warm-ups.
What is their previous World Cup form like?
2025 marks Spain’s seventh appearance at the Women’s Rugby World Cup. They did make it to the quarter-finals back in 2002, a tournament played on home soil.
More recently Las Leonas featured at the 2014 and 2017 competitions, where they finished ninth and tenth respectively.
On this week's RTÉ Rugby Podcast, @damien_omeara @neil_treacy and @HannahOConnor22 discuss the Irish mindset as they try to instil belief they're going to go deep into this Rugby World Cup #RTErugby pic.twitter.com/jRzOVGjdku
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 28, 2025
How did they qualify for the World Cup?
In recent years Spain have dominated the Rugby Europe Women’s Championship and are unbeaten since first participating in 2013.
This run has helped them consistently qualify for, and this year win, WXV3, thus securing their place at the tournament.
Who are the names we need to know?
The Spanish squad is led from the front by the ferocious Laura Delgado.
Now 35, the explosive prop is the co-captain of the squad and the only member of the travelling party with over 50 caps or with Rugby World Cup experience.
Delgado is currently with Harlequins in England, having previously lined out for Exeter Chiefs and Gloucester-Hartpury.
Another English-based player is hooker Cristina Blanco Herrera. The part-time physiotherapist at Brunel University recovered from injury in time to feature in the tournament.
Their attacking spark comes in the form of centre Claudia Pena.
Only 20 but lighting it up at the club stage, Pena has quickly become an elite midfielder with Harlequins, showing her game-breaking skillset that she moulded while playing on the Sevens circuit.
Spain are also coached by Juan González Marruecos.
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Watch Ireland v Spain in the Rugby World Cup on Sunday from 11.30am on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra.
