Ireland women's national rugby union team

The Ireland women's national rugby union team represents Ireland in international women's rugby union competitions such as the Women's Six Nations Championship and the Women's Rugby World Cup. They have also represented Ireland in the FIRA Women's European Championship. Ireland won the 2013 and 2015 Women's Six Nations Championships. In 2013 they also achieved both a Triple Crown and Grand Slam. They finished fourth in the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup after defeating New Zealand in the pool stages. Ireland hosted the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup. The team was originally organised by the Irish Women's Rugby Football Union. However, since 2009 it has been organised by the Irish Rugby Football Union

Ireland

Emblem	Shamrock
Union	Irish Rugby Football Union
Head coach	Adam Griggs
Captain	Ciara Griffin
Home stadium	Donnybrook Stadium
First colours Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current	8 (as of 23 November 2020)
First international
Scotland 10–0 Ireland  (Raeburn Place 14 February 1993)
Biggest win
Scotland 3–73 Ireland  (Broadwood Stadium 22 March 2015)
Biggest defeat
England 79–0 Ireland  (Worcester, England 17 February 2002)
World Cup
Appearances	6 (First in 1994)
Best result	Fourth, 2014
Website	www.irishrugby.ie

History

Early years

The Irish Women's Rugby Football Union was established in 1991.[1] Ireland made their international debut on 14 February 1993 with an away friendly against Scotland. This was also Scotland's first international. The match was played at Raeburn Place in front of a crowd of over 1,000. The Ireland team was coached by Alain Rolland while the Scotland coaches included Sandy Carmichael. Scotland won 10–0 with two tries from their captain, Sandra Colamartino. Ireland's first captain was Jill Henderson. A year later, on 13 February 1994, Ireland made their home international debut when a return match was played at Ravenhill. This time Scotland won 5–0.[2][3][4] In 2001 the IWRFU became affiliated to the Irish Rugby Football Union, in 2008 it effectively merged with the IRFU and since 2009 the IRFU has managed the women's national team.[1][4][5]

Rugby World Cup

Ireland have competed in every Women's Rugby World Cup since making their debut in the second tournament in 1994. They made their World Cup debut on 13 April 1994 with an 18–5 win against a Scottish Students XV. This was also Ireland's first competitive match in any competition.

Ireland's best performance at a World Cup tournament came in 2014 when they finished fourth after defeating New Zealand and winning Pool B. After defeating the United States 23–17 in their opening pool game, Ireland faced New Zealand, the 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup winners in their second game. With tries from Heather O'Brien and Alison Miller and two conversions and a penalty from Niamh Briggs, Ireland defeated New Zealand 17–14. It was just the second match New Zealand had lost in a World Cup tournament. It was the first time the Ireland women had played New Zealand and they became only the second Irish team, after Munster in 1978, to defeat a New Zealand national rugby union team.[6][7][8] The result has been described as "one of the biggest upsets in the tournament's history".[9] Ireland subsequently qualified for the semi-finals with a 40–5 win against Kazakhstan.[10][11] Ireland eventually finished fourth in the tournament after losing 18–25 to France in the third place play-off.[12]

Six Nations Championship

National anthem line-up during the 2015 Women's Six Nations Championship

Ireland made their debut in the Women's Six Nations Championship, then known as the Women's Home Nations Championship, in the inaugural 1996 competition. They played their first game against Scotland on 21 January 1996.[2] During the 1990s and early 2000s, Ireland never challenged for the championship. They regularly finished in the wooden spoon position at the bottom of the table. Before winning their first championship in 2013, the highest position they ever finished in the competition was third. They did not enter in 2000 and 2001 and were replaced by Spain. When Ireland returned in 2002, the competition became known as the Six Nations for the first time. In 2002 Ireland also suffered their biggest ever defeat when they lost 79–0 to England. Ireland won their first Six Nations match in 2005 when they defeated Wales 11–6.[1] Ireland defeated Scotland for the first time on 10 March 2007 with an 18–6 win at Meggetland.[2] In 2009 Ireland defeated France for the first time.[13]

Ireland won their first championship in 2013, winning both a Triple Crown and a Grand Slam at the same time. In their opening match of the campaign, Ireland beat Wales 12–10. Then on 9 February 2013 they defeated England for the first time. Alison Miller scored a hat-trick of tries as Ireland won 25–0. On 23 February 2013 they clinched their first Triple Crown with a 30–3 win against Scotland.[14][15][16] On 8 March 2013 Ireland effectively won the championship after they defeated France 15–10. It was confirmed the following day after Italy failed to defeat England.[17][18] Ireland eventually finished four points clear of runners-up France.[19] Ireland secured the Grand Slam with a 6–3 away win against Italy on Saint Patrick's Day. Two penalties from Niamh Briggs gave Ireland their fifth win in a row.[19][20][21]

In 2015, Ireland won their second championship and second Triple Crown in three years. They won the championship on points difference over France, after both teams had won four of their five matches. Ireland had to win their final game, against Scotland, by a margin of 27 points or more to win the title and achieved this with a 73–3 win. The result is also Ireland's biggest ever win.[22][23][24]

FIRA Women's European Championship

Ireland has also competed in the FIRA Women's European Championship. They first played in the tournament in 1997. Their best performance in this tournament was a third-place finish in 2008. In 2004 they won the Plate competition after defeating Spain 20–12 in the final.

Current squad

2018 Women's Six Nations Championship squad

New head coach, Adam Griggs,[25] named his first Six Nations squad on 22 December 2017. It featured 38 players from 10 different clubs. It included nine uncapped players and nine Ireland women's rugby sevens internationals. The team was selected following the conclusion of the 2017 IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series.[26] Ciara Griffin of UL Bohemians and Munster was named as the new Ireland captain on 15 January 2018.[27]

Player	Position	Date of Birth/Age	Caps	Club	Province
Niamh Briggs	Fullback	30 September 1984 (aged 33)	57	UL Bohemians ||Munster
Nikki Caughey	Centre	3 September 1992 (aged 25)	10	Railway Union ||Ulster
Michelle Claffey	Back			Blackrock College ||Leinster
Laura Sheehan	Wing			UL Bohemians ||Munster
Nicole Cronin	Back	20 August 1992 (aged 25)		UL Bohemians ||Munster
Jeamie Deacon	Back	25 June 1987 (aged 30)		Blackrock College ||Leinster
Katie Fitzhenry	Hooker	23 April 1989 (aged 28)		Blackrock College ||Leinster
Ellen Murphy	Back			Old Belvedere ||Leinster
Louise Galvin	Centre	3 April 1987 (aged 30)		UL Bohemians ||Munster
Katie Heffernan	Back	8 September 1998 (aged 19)		Railway Union ||Leinster
Eve Higgins	Back			Railway Union ||Leinster
Ailsa Hughes	Scrum-half	18 April 1991 (aged 26)	2	Railway Union ||Leinster
Claire McLaughlin	Centre	21 November 1991 (aged 26)	6	Old Belvedere ||Ulster
Alison Miller	Wing	30 October 1984 (aged 33)	36	Old Belvedere ||Connacht
Sene Naoupu	Centre	2 February 1984 (aged 34)		Old Belvedere ||Leinster
Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird	Back			Old Belvedere ||Munster
Hannah Tyrrell	Wing	10 August 1990 (aged 27)	7	Old Belvedere ||Leinster
Susan Vaughan	Back	24 July 1990 (aged 27)		Railway Union ||Leinster
Megan Williams	Back	21 August 1991 (aged 26)	18	Old Belvedere ||Leinster
Ashleigh Baxter	Forward	21 December 1991 (aged 26)		Cooke ||Ulster
Anna Caplice	Forward	13 March 1989 (aged 28)	1	Richmond	Munster
Ciara Cooney	Forward	18 January 1988 (aged 30)	12	Railway Union ||Leinster
Laura Feely	Forward			Galwegians ||Connacht
Nichola Fryday	Forward	2 June 1995 (aged 22)	2	Tullamore ||Connacht
Ciara Griffin	Flanker	10 January 1994 (aged 24)	11	UL Bohemians ||Munster
Leah Lyons	Prop	27 November 1994 (aged 23)	23	Harlequins ||Munster
Aoife McDermott	Forward			Railway Union ||Leinster
Edel McMahon	Forward	25 March 1994 (aged 23)		Galwegians ||Connacht
Claire Molloy	Flanker	22 June 1988 (aged 29)	53	Wasps ||Connacht
Cliodhna Moloney	Hooker	31 May 1993 (aged 24)	8	Wasps ||Leinster
Lindsay Peat	Prop	5 November 1980 (aged 37)	6	Railway Union ||Leinster
Fiona Reidy	Prop	12 March 1988 (aged 29)	6	UL Bohemians ||Munster

Source:[26][28]

Results summary

Full internationals only

Correct as of 28 October 2020

Against	First game	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Win %
Australia	1998	5	2	0	3	40.00%
Canada	2002	3	1	0	2	33.33%
England	1996	28	2	0	26	07.14%
France	1993	28	3	1	24	10.71%
Germany	1997	3	3	0	0	100.00%
Italy	1997	18	16	0	2	88.89%
Japan	1994	4	3	0	1	75.00%
Kazakhstan	1998	5	2	0	3	40.00%
Netherlands	1998	3	3	0	0	100.00%
New Zealand	2014	2	1	0	1	50.00%
Samoa	2002	1	0	0	1	0.00%
Scotland	1993	29	14	0	15	48.28%
South Africa	2006	1	1	0	0	100.00%
Spain	1997	9	4	0	5	44.44%
United States	1994	7	2	0	5	28.57%
Wales	1996	27	12	0	15	44.44%
Total	1993	173	69	1	103	39.88%

Results

See List of Ireland women's national rugby union team matches

Head coaches

	Years
Alain Rolland[3]	1993
Johnnie Neary	1998
Philip Doyle	2003–2006
John O’Sullivan	2006–2008
Steven Hennessy[13]	2009–2010
Philip Doyle	2010–2014
Tom Tierney	2014–2017
Adam Griggs[25]	2017–

Honours

• Women's Six Nations Championship
  • Winners: 2013, 2015
• Grand Slam
  • Winners: 2013
• Triple Crown
  • Winners: 2013, 2015
• FIRA Women's European Championship Plate
  • Winners: 2004

References

1. "'Women who participated in other traditional 'male' sports used to be regarded as some sort of sexual deviants'". The Irish Independent. 6 August 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
2. "Ireland and Scotland celebrate 25 years". scrumqueens.com. 14 February 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
3. "Pioneers celebrate 25th anniversary of first Scotland women's international". theoffsideline.com. 14 February 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
4. "Women's Teams Reunite To Mark 25th Anniversary". irishrugby.ie. 14 February 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
5. "Ireland's new Call". The Irish Independent. 30 July 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
6. "Black Ferns lose historic match to Ireland". allblacks.com. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
7. "Women's Rugby World Cup 2014: Ireland stun four-time champions New Zealand". The Daily Telegraph. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
8. "Irish women's rugby team record historic win over New Zealand". The Irish Independent. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
9. "Women's Rugby World Cup: The story so far". rwcwomens.com. 4 August 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
10. "Ireland crush Kazakhstan to book World Cup semi-final spot". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
11. "The history makers: behind the scenes with Ireland's women". BBC. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
12. "France too strong for Ireland in playoffs". emeraldrugby.com. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
13. "Women Secure First Ever Victory Over France". irishrugby.ie. 6 February 2009. Archived from the original on 29 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
14. "Miller hat-trick hands Ireland historic win over England". sixnationsrugby.com. 9 February 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
15. "Women's Six Nations: Ireland beat Scotland to win Triple Crown". BBC. 23 February 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
16. "In pictures: Ireland's women capture first ever Triple Crown". the42.ie. 23 February 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
17. "Ireland sink France to close in on RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam". sixnationsrugby.com. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
18. "Ireland v France – Women's Six Nations Rugby Championship Photos". sportsfile.com. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
19. "Women's Six Nations: Champions Ireland complete Grand Slam". BBC. 17 March 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
20. "Grand Slam Glory For Ireland Women". irishrugby.ie. 17 March 2013. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
21. "Narrow win secures Grand Slam for Irish women". The Irish Times. 17 March 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
22. "Women's Six Nations: Ireland hammer Scotland to clinch title". BBC. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
23. "Biggest Ever Win Seals Six Nations Title For Ireland Women". irishrugby.ie. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
24. "Ireland Women Crowned 6 Nations Champions". leinsterrugby.ie. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
25. "Griggs Appointed Ireland Women's Head Coach". irishrugby.ie. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
26. "Ireland Women's Squad Announced For 2018 Six Nations". irishrugby.ie. 22 December 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
27. "'Natural leader' Ciara Griffin named as Ireland Women's captain". The Irish Times. 15 January 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
28. "Ireland Women Squad". irishrugby.ie. Retrieved 4 March 2018.