Ireland women's national rugby league team

Last updated

Ireland
Team information
Governing body Rugby League Ireland
Region Europe
Head coachMatt Kennerson
CaptainStorm Cobain
Top try-scorerAli Coleman 5
Storm Cobain 5
Top point-scorerStorm Cobain 46
(5 tries, 13 goals)
Home stadium Energia Park
IRL ranking 8 Decrease2.svg 1 (21 July 2025) [1]
Uniforms
Kit left arm whiteborder.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body whiteV.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm whiteborder.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks white hoops.png
Kit socks long.svg
First colours
Team results
First international
Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 26 – 24 Wales  Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
at Colwyn Bay, 17 October 2021
Biggest win
Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 42 – 6 Netherlands  Flag of the Netherlands.svg
at Sassenheim, 4 October 2025
Biggest defeat
Four Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 4 – 44 Wales  Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg
at Dublin, 8 October 2022

The Ireland women's national rugby league team is organised by Rugby League Ireland and represents Ireland in international rugby league.

Contents

Ireland first fielded a women's Rugby League team in October 2021, winning their inaugural Test Match against Wales.

Head to head records

OpponentFMMRMWDLWin%PFPAShare
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 20212024310233.33%409629.41%
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 202220221100100.00%30683.33%
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 202220221100100.00%8657.14%
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 202420242200100.00%581876.32%
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 202420241100100.00%42687.50%
Flag of France.svg  France 2025202510010.00%43410.53%
Totals20212025960366.67%18216652.30%

Notes:

Coaches

The inaugural head coach of the Ireland women's national rugby league team was John Whalley. [2]

In January 2024, Rugby League Ireland announced the appointment of Matt Kennerson as the Head Coach. [3]

Players

The table below lists the extended squad named by Rugby League Ireland ahead of the 2025 World Series Qualifier for the 2026 World Cup. [4] The squad of 33 included the 19 players that were previously selected for the match against France on 12 July 2025. Orlaith McAuliffe was named captain for that match. [5]

A squad of 20 players for the match against the Netherlands was announced on 1 October ahead of their fixture on 4 October 2025. On social media the team was listed in alphabetical order of the players' given names, from Aifric Ni Ghibne to Storm Cobain. [6] Amelia Newtown was added to the extended squad for the Netherlands match.

Jersey numbers reflect, and tallies in the table include, the match against the Netherlands on 4 October 2025.

J#PlayerAgePosition(s)ClubProfileDebutMTGP
1Aimee Clarke– Fullback , Wing Flag of Ireland.svg Ipswich Colours.svg Dublin City Exiles Yes 20252000
2Lena Kibler– Wing , Scrum-half Flag of Ireland.svg Ipswich Colours.svg Dublin City Exiles Yes 20251000
3Stephanie Carroll– Centre , Wing Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wellington colours.svg Mount Pritchard Mounties No20213208
4Mollie Young23 Centre Flag of England.svg Leigh colours.svg Leigh Leopards Yes 20224104
5Cliodhna O'Sullivan– Wing , Stand-off Flag of Ireland.svg Ipswich Colours.svg Dublin City Exiles Yes 20245104
6Emma Kelly– Stand-off Flag of Ireland.svg Ipswich Colours.svg Dublin City Exiles Yes 20252000
7Jade Walker– Scrum-half , Stand-off Flag of England.svg Broncoscolours.png London Broncos No20243000
8Aifric Ni Ghibne– Prop , Fullback Flag of Australia (converted).svg Villefranchecolours.png Engadine Dragons Yes 20252000
9Niamh Griffin– Hooker Flag of Ireland.svg Ipswich Colours.svg Dublin City Exiles Yes 20243000
10Stacy Hanley30 Prop , Second-row Flag of Australia (converted).svg Villefranchecolours.png Engadine Dragons Yes 20225104
11Storm Cobain27 Second-row , Loose forward Flag of England.svg Leigh colours.svg Leigh Leopards Yes 2021951346
12Anna Potterton– Second-row , Centre Flag of Ireland.svg Ipswich Colours.svg Dublin City Exiles Yes 20243000
13Iona McCusker– Loose forward Flag of England.svg Broncoscolours.png London Broncos No20217208
14Polly Roberts– Hooker Flag of England.svg Broncoscolours.png London Broncos No20243000
15Molly Boyne28 Second-row Flag of Ireland.svg Ipswich Colours.svg Dublin City Exiles Yes 20252000
16Becky Webb29 Second-row Flag of England.svg Widnes colours.svg Widnes Vikings Yes 20252000
17Katie Ann McCallion– Hooker Flag of England.svg Brisbane colours.svg Bainbridge BroncosNo20251000
18Amelia Newton– Loose forward Flag of England.svg Swintoncolours.svg Swinton Lions No—0000
–Caoimhe Molloy– Loose forward Flag of Ireland.svg Ipswich Colours.svg Dublin City Exiles Yes 20243208
–Orlaith McAuliffe– Prop , Loose forward Flag of Ireland.svg Ipswich Colours.svg Dublin City Exiles Yes 20223000
–Aine Rutley– Second-row , Prop Flag of Ireland.svg Ipswich Colours.svg Dublin City Exiles Yes 20242000
–Alice Fitzgerald– Wing Flag of Ireland.svg Ipswich Colours.svg Dublin City Exiles No20242104
–Holly O'Dwyer26 Wing , Centre Flag of Ireland.svg Mackay Cutters colours.svg Galway Tribeswomen Yes 20243208
–Jemma Gallagher– Prop Flag of Australia (converted).svg South Sydney colours.svg Corrimal Cougars No—0000
–Katie Ann O'Neill– Centre , Second-row Flag of Ireland.svg Ipswich Colours.svg Dublin City Exiles Yes 20251000
–Lily Rogan21 Centre , Wing Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers Yes —0000
–Lisa Callan– Second-row Flag of Ireland.svg Ipswich Colours.svg Dublin City Exiles Yes 20224000
–Lydia Egan– Prop Flag of England.svg Redscolours.svg Salford Red Devils No20241000
–Martha Dwyer– Lock Flag of Australia (converted).svg Aspley Broncos colours.svg Aspley Devils No—0000
–Megan Preston30 Hooker , Centre Flag of England.svg Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield Giants Yes 20243104
–Rachel Morton– Prop Flag of England.svg Brisbane colours.svg Bainbridge BroncosNo20242000
–Roisin Crowe– Fullback Flag of Australia (converted).svg Villefranchecolours.png Engadine Dragons Yes 20213000
–Sarah Madison Boyle– Prop Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wellington colours.svg Mount Pritchard Mounties No—0000
–Tricia Doyle– Second-row , interchange Flag of Australia (converted).svg Aspley Broncos colours.svg Aspley Devils No20243104

Results

Full internationals

DateOpponentScore [a] TournamentVenueVideoReports
17 Oct 2021Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 26–24Test MatchFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg Stadiwm ZipWorld, Colwyn Bay [7] [8] [9]
11 Jun 2022Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 30–6 European Championships B Flag of Italy.svg Pasian Di Pato Rugby Stadium, Udine [10] [11] [12] [13]
8 Oct 2022Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 4–44Flag of Ireland.svg Energia Park, Dublin — [14] [15]
25 Oct 2022Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 8–6Test MatchFlag of England.svg Orrell St James Rugby League Club, Wigan — [16]
27 Apr 2024Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 10–28 WC Qualifier (Euro Group A)Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cardiff University Sports Fields [17] [18] [19]
19 May 2024Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 16–12Flag of Ireland.svg Energia Park, Dublin [20] [21]
12 Oct 2024Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 42–6 WC Qualifier (Euro Playoff)Flag of Greece.svg Gkorytsa Stadium, Aspropygos, Athens [22] [23]
12 July 2025Flag of France.svg  France 4–34Test MatchFlag of Ireland.svg Garda RFC, Westmanstown Sports Centre, Dublin — [24]
4 Oct 2025Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 42–6Test MatchFlag of the Netherlands.svg Rugby Club The Bassetts. Sassenheim [25] [26]

Upcoming fixtures

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Ireland score given first

References

  1. ↑ "IRL World Rankings: Women". International Rugby League. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  2. ↑ "Two Saints Women in Ireland Women's Train On Squad". saintsrlfc.com. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  3. ↑ "RLI announce Women's Head Coach". Rugby League Ireland. 27 January 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  4. ↑ "Ireland name extended squad for IRL Women's World Series". European Rugby League. 18 September 2025. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  5. ↑ "Ireland and France name squads for Women's Senior International". European Rugby League. 11 July 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  6. ↑ "Team News - RLI vs Netherlands". facebook. Rugby League Ireland. 1 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  7. ↑ "Highlights - Wales vs Ireland Women - Ireland's first-ever International Women's Rugby League Match". YouTube. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  8. ↑ Fletcher, Charlotte (18 October 2021). "Match Report: Wales Women v Ireland Women". Rugby League Ireland. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  9. ↑ "Wales 24 v 26 Ireland - Match Report". European Rugby League. 17 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  10. ↑ "Italia League vs Irlanda League - Europeo 2022/highlights, mete ed interviste". YouTube. Delinquenzaovale. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  11. ↑ "Italy 6 v 30 Ireland - Match Report". European Rugby League. 11 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  12. ↑ "Rugby League: Troppa Irlanda Per L'Italia League Femminile". Non Professional Rugby. 11 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  13. ↑ "Women take win against Italy". Rugby League Ireland. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  14. ↑ "Match Report - Ireland 4 v 44 Wales". Wales Rugby League. 8 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  15. ↑ "Ireland 4 v 44 Wales - Match Report". European Rugby League. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  16. ↑ "Canada 6 v 8 Ireland - Match report". European Rugby League. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  17. ↑ "Cymru v Ireland Highlights". facebook. Welsh Rugby League - Rygbi Cynghrair Cymru. 29 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  18. ↑ Golden, Ian (27 April 2024). "Merched – Wales 28 Ireland 10". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  19. ↑ "Wales 28 v 10 Ireland - Match report". European Rugby League. 27 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  20. ↑ "Ireland v The Netherlands Women's World Cup Qualifier". YouTube. Steve Hogan. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  21. ↑ "Ireland 16 v 12 Netherlands - Match report". European Rugby League. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  22. ↑ "Greece vs Ireland, Rugby League World Cup Qualifier". YouTube. Greek Rugby League Federation. 12 October 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  23. ↑ "Greece 6 v 42 Ireland - Match Report". European Rugby League. 12 October 2024. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  24. ↑ "Ireland 4 v 34 France - Match Report". European Rugby League. 12 July 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  25. ↑ "Netherlands vs Ireland - European Rugby League Women". YouTube. Nederlandse Rugby League Bond. 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
  26. ↑ "Netherlands 6 v 42 Ireland - Match Report". European Rugby League. 4 October 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  27. ↑ "Canada to host historic IRL Women's World Series". International Rugby League. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  28. ↑ Walter, Brad (21 March 2025). "Unfinished business: Bulikula set for World Series in Canada". NRL. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  29. ↑ "IRL Women's World Series 2025: Venue and kick-off times confirmed". International Rugby League. 9 July 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
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