Latest news with #Bemand
RTÉ News
10-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Aoife Wafer a doubt for start of Rugby World Cup
Ireland backrower Aoife Wafer is in a race to be fit for the start of the Women's Rugby World Cup next month. Head coach Scott Bemand is sweating on the fitness of the 2025 Six Nations Player of the Championship after she sustained another knee injury. She looks set to miss both warm-up games, against Scotland (2 August) and a week later (9 August) where Belfast will host the visit of Canada, and is now a genuine concern for the opening World Cup pool game against Japan in Northampton on Sunday, 24 August. Ireland take on Spain a week later (31 August) at Franklin's Gardens before concluding the pool stages against New Zealand in Brighton (7 September). Wafer, who scored four tries in this year's Six Nations, missed the final game against Scotland after damaging knee ligaments. The extent of the latest setback remains unknown, but Bemand indicated the Harlequins player would feature at some stage in the tournament. It is the latest injury concern for Bemand, who already must plan without key forwards Erin King and Dorothy Wall for the tournament.
The 42
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Aoife Wafer in race to be fit for Ireland's Rugby World Cup campaign
IRELAND HAVE BEEN dealt another significant injury blow ahead of the Women's Rugby World Cup, with news that Aoife Wafer has suffered a knee injury. Wafer has undergone a procedure and while it is hoped she will return at some point during the World Cup, she is now in a race to be fit for Ireland's pool fixtures, with the back rower expected to miss the World Cup warm-up games against Scotland (2 August) and Canada (9 August). Ireland open their World Cup campaign against Japan in Northampton on 24 August, before games against Spain (31 August) and New Zealand (7 September). Wafer has been one of Ireland's standout players over the last 12 months and was named Six Nations Player of the Championship earlier this year. The injury is not a recurrence of the knee problem which ruled the Wexford native out of the final round of this year's Six Nations, but will keep the Harlequins player sidelined for a number of weeks. 'She's had a procedure. It won't keep her out of the World Cup,' confirmed Ireland head coach Scott Bemand. Advertisement Wafer was this year's Six Nations Player of the Championship. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO 'I think the World Cup warm-up games will come a little bit quickly. But there will be all things put in place to get her back into the World Cup, depending on how certain markers are met will define at which point but we're pretty optimistic with how it's gone. 'I believe she'll be fit at some point (at the World Cup). There's a few markers to get through before that but we're very confident we'll see her at the World Cup. 'It wasn't even in live rugby. Just one of those things, got hit on the side of her leg. Relatively minor procedure and hopefully she comes through it really quickly.' While Ireland are not putting a timeframe on Wafer's return to action, Bemand will hope to have the influential back row available for the final pool game against the Black Ferns in Brighton. 'It could be before that,' Bemand said. 'There's a medical piece, she's not long had this done. A few bits to jump through that but we're pretty optimistic about that (New Zealand game).' Bemand is already missing a number of key players for the World Cup, with Dorothy Wall ruled out of the tournament with an Achilles injury and Erin King sidelined with a long-term knee issue. 'She's ahead of schedule,' Bemand said of Wall, 'but what does that look like? It's unlikely to be the World Cup. 'Erin had a piece over time, no real incident or mechanism for the knee. It's a knee that perhaps had stuff going on over the last couple of years and at some point it was going to find her out and none of us knew.' The Ireland squad are now into the fifth week of their pre-World Cup training camp in Abbotstown, with Ireland men's captain Caelan Doris visiting the squad yesterday to work with the back row players. In May, defence coach Hugh Hogan left Bemand's backroom team, a change which reportedly didn't sit well with some members of the playing squad. Former Bath and Exeter Chiefs flanker James Scaysbrook replaced Hogan as defence coach. 'Generally players don't massively enjoy change one way or another, whether people leave or whether as a coaching group we make a decision to do stuff,' Bemand said. 'That's the nature of high performance sport. 'Nothing is as consistent as change in high performance sport. As a coaching group, the synergy and stuff that we were after, we made a decision that we want to add a slightly different layer to what we are. He did a great job in getting it started but the evolving growth in the group, we made a decision to bring in some of the components that James Scaysbrook can bring. Already he's starting to add, he's starting to challenge players to the next level, to the next layer. 'Certainly going into high pressure environments like the World Cup, the synergy bit is really important and we think we're in a good space now.'
RTÉ News
12-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Ireland to face England in Women's Six Nations opener
Ireland face the toughest possible start to next year's Guinness Women's Six Nations, with Scott Bemand's side away to England in the opening round. The fixture list for the 2026 championship has been confirmed, with organisers rejigging the layout of games, while they have also pushed the championship back by three weeks. In previous seasons, the Women's Six Nations has immediately followed the men's championship, but the 2026 championship will now get under way on Saturday, 11 April. Additionally, all games will now take place on the same day as each other, with the first four rounds of games all set for Saturdays, while the final round will be a 'Super Sunday', on 17 May. Ireland face a tough start to their 2026 campaign, with away games against England and France among their opening three fixtures. They'll face England away from home in their opener on 11 April, with a 2.25pm kick-off at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, before hosting Italy on 18 April at 5.40pm. In round three, Bemand's side are away to France, with a late kick-off at 8.10pm Irish time on 25 April. After a fallow weekend, Ireland finish their championship with home games against Wales and Scotland, hosting Wales at 6.30pm on Saturday 9 May, before a 2.30pm start against the Scots on Sunday 17 May. The venues for Ireland's home games, and their away trip to France, are yet to be confirmed. 2025 Guinness Women's Six Nations fixtures: England v Ireland; 11 April, Allianz Stadium, Twickenham Ireland v Italy; 18 April, Venue TBC France v Ireland, 25 April, Venue TBC Ireland v Wales, 9 May, Venue TBC Ireland v Scotland, 17 May, Venue TBC
Irish Examiner
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Scott Bemand names 37-player preparation squad ahead of the Women's Rugby World Cup
Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has named a 37-player preparation squad for the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup in England later this summer. There are two uncapped players in the squad with Bemand selecting Alma Atagamen and Ivan Kiripati. Following impressive debuts in the Guinness Women's Six Natinos against Scotland Jane Clohessy and Aoife Corey have been rewarded with selection for the preparation squad. Sam Monaghan, Beibhinn Parsons, Sarah Delaney, Eimear Corri and Shannon Ikahihifo all make their return to the squad after missing the WXV1 and Six Nations campaigns through injury. Bemand may add additional players in the coming weeks. The team will meet up at the IRFU High Performance Centre on Monday June 2 to undertake a series of camps before their two warm-up games against Scotland and Canada in August. Speaking on his preparation squad selection Bemand said 'We're excited to come back together as a group refreshed, recharged, and ready to build towards what promises to be a huge few months. "The competition for places in the final World Cup squad will be fierce, and I know the players will embrace that challenge. 'There's great continuity within the squad, with many of the group having come through WXV1 last September, but we've also brought in some young talent who are hungry to make their mark. Now it's about putting in the hard work. We've got a valuable block of time ahead to prepare, and we're looking forward to the opportunity to test ourselves in front of home support in Cork and Belfast this August.' James Scaysbrook joins Bemands coaching team as defence coach alongside Denis Fogarty (Scrum Coach), Alex Codling (Forwards Coach) and Gareth Steenson (Kicking Coach). Former Bath and Exeter Chiefs flanker Scaysbrook has transitioned into coaching following his playing career. He coached in Hong Kong and Japan before joining the England U20s as Defence Coach. He joined Coventry RFC in 2020 and now is linking up with the Ireland Women's Coaching team. Ireland Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 Preparation Squad Forwards: Alma Atagamen (Balbriggan RFC)* Aoife Wafer (Leinster) Brittany Hogan (Ulster) Christy Haney (Leinster) Clíodhna Moloney (Exeter Chiefs) Deirbhile Nic a Bháird (Munster) Edel McMahon (Connacht) Eimear Corri (Leinster) Fiona Tuite (Ulster) Grace Moore (IQ Rugby) Ivana Kiripati (Connacht)* Jane Clohessy (Munster) Linda Djougang (Leinster) Neve Jones (Gloucester Hartpury) Niamh O'Dowd (Leinster) Ruth Campbell (Leinster) Sadhbh McGrath (Ulster) Sam Monaghan (IQ Rugby) Sarah Delaney (Leinster) Shannon Ikahihifo (IQ Rugby) Siobhán McCarthy (Munster) Backs: Amee-Leigh Costigan (Munster) Anna McGann (Railway Union RFC) Aoibheann Reilly (Connacht) Aoife Corey (Munster) Aoife Dalton (Leinster) Béibhinn Parsons (Connacht) Dannah O'Brien (Leinster) Emily Lane (Munster) Enya Breen (Munster) Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC) Katie Corrigan (Leinster) Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Leinster) Nicole Fowley (Connacht) Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC) Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC) Training Panellist: Méabh Deely (Connacht) *denotes uncapped
RTÉ News
26-04-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Preview: Ireland out to complete best W6NN finish since 2017
Two expected wins and two expected defeats. Saturday in Edinburgh is set to define Ireland's Guinness Women's Six Nations campaign. Even with Ireland almost guaranteed to finish third in the table, there is no sense of this being a dead rubber. If anything, the table is an irrelevance for Ireland this week, who are looking to win three away games in the championship for the first time since 2017. The big challenge facing thm this week will be whether or not they can do it without Aoife Wafer. Player of the match in last week's 40-14 win against Wales, the number eight has been one of the standout individuals in the championship – not just this Irish team – but a knee injury keeps her out for the trip to Edinburgh. With four tries in four games, Wafer is the joint-top scorer in this year's Six Nations, while her 70 carries are 22 more than any other player, and she ranks in the top five for broken tackles, running metres and breakdown steals. A force multiplier, it will be fascinating to see how Ireland cope without her, particularly with their other big back row prospect, Erin King, out injured long-term. There is a silver lining, even if it's relatively thin. Back row is a position that Ireland do have plenty of options in, and Scott Bemand has responded by moving Brittany Hogan back to her old home of number 8, while Dorothy Wall returns to the back row. Wall has only featured as a lock for Ireland under Bemand, but having won around half of her 36 caps as a flanker, the 24-year-old is well versed at blindside. While Bemand and his squad will naturally be keen to finish the campaign on a high note, their relatively safe position in third has given him scope to make some tweaks to his side, with half an eye towards the World Cup this summer. Aoife Corey has been rewarded for her good form in both the Celtic Challenge and Energia All-Ireland League with a start this afternoon in Edinburgh. Having not even made the initial 35-player squad at the start of the championship, Corey (below) is put into the 15 shirt, replacing Stacey Flood in the back-field, while 22-year-old Vicky Elmes-Kinlan gets her first start of the championship on the right wing. There is also a debut on the bench, and one with a familiar surname. Jane Clohessy, daughter of former Munster and Ireland prop Peter, is set to win her first cap off the bench. The back-row forward had been named in the Ireland squad for last year's WXV in Canada, but after missing that championship with injury, will now get her chance to match her father by earning an international cap. A win for Ireland on Saturday would so see them hit their best points total on the table since 2017, where they won four games and finished second. And two years on from scoring a meagre three tries and 25 points, the Irish attack has evolved to the point where this could be their highest scoring campaign ever. With 114 points and 18 tries across these four games, Bemand's side would beat their highest ever points haul, which they set in their 2015 title-winning season (139 points and 20 tries), if they hit 26 points this afternoon at The Hive. Historically Ireland have dominated this fixture, winning 13 of their last 17 meetings, but a fascinating rivalry has emerged in recent years. Scotland have been at the centre of two of the darkest days in Irish women's rugby history – on the pitch at least. In 2021 they lit the flame when they beat Ireland in their World Cup qualification play-off in Parma, and they were 36-1o winners when these sides met in Edinburgh two years ago (below), handing Ireland a first Six Nations wooden spoon since 2004. Between those wins, Ireland have had two dramatic victories over the Scots in Belfast. In 2022, Enya Breen's late try and conversion saw Ireland snatch a 15-14 win with the final play of the game, while last year Ireland were 15-12 winners, a result which secured their World Cup and WXV 1 qualification. It's been a mixed campaign for Bryan Easson's side, who finished second in WXV 2 behind Australia in the autumn. After starting with a gritty win against Wales, they showed some positive flashes in a 38-15 defeat to France in Round 2 but then fell to a disappointing 25-17 defeat to Italy. Last week, they had their doors blown off by England's second-string team in the opening 40 minutes in Leicester, 42-0 down by half-time, before a spirited second half saw the game end 59-7. Easson has made three changes to his side from that game, with prop Leah Bartlett, scrum-half Leia Brebner-Holden and captain Rachel Malcolm all coming back into the side. An experienced first XV, Scotland have eight players with 50 or more Test caps each, but behind that they are relying on youth. On their bench, Molly Poolman, Becky Boyd, Gemma Bell, Rhea Clarke, Evie Willis and Lucia Scott have a combined 16 caps between them. If Ireland can get through the first hour with a lead, their greater depth should be enough to lead them to their best championship finish since 2017. Verdict: Ireland by 15 Scotland: Chloe Rollie; Rhona Lloyd, Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, Francesca McGhie; Helen Nelson, Leia Brebner-Holden; Leah Bartlett, Lana Skeldon, Ellian Clarke; Jade Konkel, Sarah Bonar; Rachel Malcolm, Rachel McLachlan, Evie Gallagher Replacements: Elis Martin, Anne Young, Molly Poolman, Becky Boyd, Gemma Bell, Rhea Clarke, Evie Willis, Lucia Scott Ireland: Aoife Corey; Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Aoife Dalton, Enya Breen, Amee-Leigh Costigan; Dannah O'Brien, Molly Scuffil-McCabe; Niamh O'Dowd, Neve Jones, Linda Djougang; Ruth Campbell, Fiona Tuite; Dorothy Wall, Edel McMahon (capt), Brittany Hogan. Watch a URC double-header, Scarlets v Leinster and Ulster v Sharks, on Saturday from 4.45pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
