Normally when an Irish soccer or rugby team qualifies for a World Cup final there is an air of excitement in the country. But I think the mood is very low key this week as the Irish Women’s Rugby team in England for the Women’s World Cup tournament. Ireland’s first game is on Sunday next is against Japan in Franklin’s Garden Northampton; it will be same venue for their second game against Spain on Aug. 31 and then it’s New Zealand in Brighton Stadium on Sept. 7. The first-ever Women’s Rugby World Cup was played in Wales in 1991 where the USA were the surprise winners. The Irish team made their World Cup debut in Scotland in 1994 and Ireland hosted the event in 2017 with games in Belfast and Dublin. Our best performance was in 2014 when we became team the first country to beat New Zealand in a World Cup game in 23 years and finish fourth. This time around, Ireland head into the tournament following a very average Six Nations campaign and mixed results from the warm-up games, a win over Scotland followed by a loss to Canada. Manager Scott Bemand was glad to have got through the two warm-up games without any injuries. However, Ireland are without Dorothy Wall and 2024 World Rugby breakthrough player of the year Erin King, both out due to ACL injuries, while Christy Haney misses with a hamstring injury. The squad features two recently qualifies Irish players Ellena Perry and Nancy McGillivray, and uncapped hooker Beth Buttimer, who impressed in the recent under 20s Summer Series but who was left out for the recent warm-up games. The All Blacks women’s team are not rated in the same league as their men’s team and qualification for the next round may depend on the result of that game in Brighton. Sunderland’s Stadium of Light will host the opening game between England and the United States on Aug. 22, with the final at Twickenham on Sept. 27.
