Ireland women's national rugby league team

Last updated

Ireland
Team information
Governing body Rugby League Ireland
Region Europe
Head coachMatt Kennerson
CaptainAlex McGuinness
Top try-scorerAli Coleman 5
Top point-scorerStorm Cobain 22
(4 tries, 3 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 30 – 6 Italy  Flag of Italy.svg
at Udine, 11 June 2022
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 202420241100100.00%161257.14%
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 202420241100100.00%42687.50%
Flag of France.svg  France 2025202510010.00%43410.53%
Totals20212025850362.50%14016046.67%

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 squad named for the match against France on 12 July 2025. Orlaith McAuliffe was named captain. [4]

Tallies in the table include the match in July 2025.

J#PlayerAgePosition(s)ClubProfileDebutMTGP
1Cliodhna O'Sullivan Fullback , Stand-off Ipswich Colours.svg Dublin ExilesNo20244000
2Aimee Clarke Wing , Fullback Ipswich Colours.svg Dublin ExilesNo20251000
3Anna Potterton Centre , Lock Ipswich Colours.svg Dublin Exiles Yes 20242000
4Katie-Ann O'Neill Centre , Second-row Ipswich Colours.svg Dublin Exiles Yes 20251000
5Holly O'Dwyer22 Wing , Centre Mackay Cutters colours.svg Galway Tribes Yes 20243208
6Emma Kelly Stand-off Ipswich Colours.svg Dublin ExilesNo20251000
7Jade Walker Scrum-half , Stand-off Broncoscolours.png   London Broncos No20242000
8Orlaith McAuliffe Prop , Loose forward Ipswich Colours.svg Dublin Exiles Yes 20223000
9Polly Roberts Hooker Broncoscolours.png   London Broncos No20242000
10Stacy Hanley26 Prop , Second-row Mackay Cutters colours.svg Galway Tribes Yes 20224000
11Aifric Ní Ghibne Second-row , Fullback Mackay Cutters colours.svg Galway Tribes Yes 20251000
12Storm Cobain23 Second-row , Loose forward Leigh colours.svg   Leigh Leopards Yes 202184832
13Iona McCusker Loose forward Broncoscolours.png   London Broncos No20216000
14Megan Preston26 Hooker , Centre Giantscolours.svg   Huddersfield Giants Yes 20243104
15Molly Boyne24 Second-row Ipswich Colours.svg Dublin Exiles Yes 20251000
16Aine Rutley Second-row , Prop Ipswich Colours.svg Dublin Exiles Yes 20242000
17Becky Webb25 Second-row Widnes colours.svg Widnes Vikings Yes 20251000
18Lena Kibler Scrum-half Ipswich Colours.svg Dublin Exiles Yes —0000
19Katie-Anne McCallion Hooker Brisbane colours.svg Banbridge Broncos Yes —0000

Results

Full internationals

DateScore [a] OpponentTournamentVenueVideoReports
17 Oct 202126–24Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Test MatchFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg Stadiwm ZipWorld, Colwyn Bay [5] [6] [7]
11 Jun 202230–6Flag of Italy.svg  Italy European Championships B Flag of Italy.svg Pasian Di Pato Rugby Stadium, Udine [8] [9] [10] [11]
8 Oct 20224–44Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales Flag of Ireland.svg Energia Park, Dublin — [12] [13]
25 Oct 20228–6Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Test MatchFlag of England.svg Orrell St James Rugby League Club, Wigan — [14]
27 Apr 202410–28Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales WC Qualifier (Euro Group A)Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cardiff University Sports Fields [15] [16] [17]
19 May 202416–12Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Flag of Ireland.svg Energia Park, Dublin [18] [19]
12 Oct 202442–6Flag of Greece.svg  Greece WC Qualifier (Euro Playoff)Flag of Greece.svg Gkorytsa Stadium, Aspropygos, Athens [20] [21]
12 July 20254–34Flag of France.svg  France Test MatchFlag of Ireland.svg Garda RFC, Westmanstown Sports Centre, Dublin — [22]

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