Rugby is so brutally corrosive at times. Bodies roll in and out. There may have been injuries and dashed dreams in the past, but there is always another game on the schedule. The show goes on, even if sometimes it goes on without you.
The 50 best female rugby players in 2026
The full list is here! RugbyPass has ranked the top 50 women’s rugby players in the world for 2026. See who made the Top 50 and who took the top spot.
Ryan Baird stood courtside on Friday night and reflected on what it was like to be back in the green jersey. Baird last played for Ireland November 2025, against South Africa. Identified as the next bright spark in Irish rugby in the early 2020s, it took Baird five years to earn a regular starting role for his country. He started six consecutive tests on the blind side. This was his moment, better late than never, and he seized it.
Baird then broke his leg during Ireland’s 24-13 loss to the Springboks. He battled through extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation and returned to the hospital Leinster team for the business end of last season. He played two Champions Cup games – won Edinburgh and Sale – then he suffered another leg fracture. Season over, no summer tour with Ireland.
Ireland moved on. They had no other choice. Cian Prendergast, Jack Conan, Cormac Izuchukwu and, mostly, Tadhg Beirne took that number 6 jersey. Baird returned to Leinster and played the full 80 in four matches – once at lock and the rest in the back row. Andy Farrell has given his latest team a golden ticket. However, there were question marks over him starting with the blindside against Argentina. I’m a big fan of Baird, but I was pushing for Cian Prendergast to get the nod.
On Friday, Baird sent a reminder to anyone who doubts what he’s coming back for. The 27-year-old stole three Cougars lines, one of which led to Hugo Keenan’s second try. He jumped well in attacking formations as well, diving high and feeding Craig Casey a clear ball before Dan Sheehan scored. There was also the beauty of the offload that set Keenan up for his second-half hat-trick.
After his side’s incredible 42-12 victory, Baird commented: “I had a few tears coming out of the tunnel before the anthem – what a tough journey it was to come back here, just to soak it all in. I had faith in myself to come back. Nothing is ever guaranteed, but it was something I had my eye on.”
Farrell wanted Baird back when he spoke to reporters after announcing his squad last Wednesday. Two days later, as the clock struck 11pm at the Aviva Stadium, Ireland’s head coach was positively beaming. “I told you he’s obsessed with the stuff he puts up,” Farrell noted. “Obviously he’s been a leader for us in the defensive lines for a while now. He’s obviously progressing and he’s made some calls in the line, if late, with Leinster.”
“He’s a fantastic striker. He makes a fantastic difference isn’t he, he steals the ball. Some of his things in the general game were pretty good too.”
Ireland are already planning a game against South Africa on November 21. Having Baird and McCarthy at their best, in the air and on the deck, will be crucial if Farrell’s side are to avenge last year’s humiliation at home.
Rugby clubs and nations are adapting to variations in the law that have cleaned up some defensive squirrels and dismissals around mauls. In turn, we see the vault at its peak as an offensive weapon. The Springboks are going full steam ahead, with New Zealand and Italy between the pages dragging back to the white boards and erasing them.
One possible way to negate that threat is to step up and actually go to the lines, to deny a clear ball. Generally speaking, the option of keeping the attacker on the deck and letting the attacking side dictate the terms does not work. That being said, Joe McCarthy continues to prove adept at coming in and disrupting attacking goals (for Leinster and Ireland) this season. With any changes or changes to the law, there will always be someone who will find a solution. Gray area.
Ireland are already planning a game against South Africa on November 21. Having Baird and McCarthy at their best, in the air and on the deck, will be crucial if Farrell’s side are to avenge last year’s humiliation at home.
For Farrell, bringing back some of his key lieutenants has already proved crucial. “The likes of Ryan, Hugo, Ports (Andrew Porter) and Mack, they’ve all been out of international rugby for a while,” he noted. “I thought they were huge, coming back in the circle and showing everyone what we missed.”
‘Sometimes you stop believing’
Amidst all the comeback talk, Nick Timoney shared one about the guy who was never away. Blessed with a relatively clean bill of health for the past six years, Timoney has endured more mental struggles. He has featured in most of Farrell’s squad since taking over in 2020, but has only managed four games in five seasons. Having former World Rugby Player of the Year Josh van der Flier as open competition has meant steep climbs in every training camp. Farrell and his coaching staff have always claimed to be big fans Ulster last line. He was told to keep grinding. Continue to perform for Ulster and train hard, in the sessions and reps he got. However, it was not always easy as the seasons and years passed.
After another solid outing in the open side, with Van der Flier backing him up, Timoney reflected on the moments when it proved difficult to continue with a selection that struggled against him.
“It is and it’s not hard to stay motivated,” he began. “You’re so close you almost feel like you should be the most motivated person in the room, all the time. Certainly, with Paulie (O’Connell), there’s been a lot of chatter around saying to me, ‘You’re so close. All it takes is a decent chance in the big game to change it all.’
“Sometimes you stop believing them completely because it feels like the chances might not come. But then, in fairness to them, they were telling the truth. The chances eventually came and they obviously believed I took them to some extent. I think it’s nine games in a row for Ireland that I dreamed about three or four years ago.” that they are open and don’t make decisions about people. That’s a testament to this team, and this environment values people who stick it out and work hard, and they’ll eventually give you a chance.
Going with Sheehan at No.8 against the world champions, with little or no repetition on the field, may be out of coach Rassie Erasmus’ school. Farrell, it is assumed, will lean towards the more conservative option.
However, Farrell may be forced to switch positions for Timoney, due to more dire injury news. Sean Jansen was excluded from the rest of the championship after suffering a knee injury against Argentina. That leaves Farrell without three No.8s: Caelan Doris, Conan and Jansen. If he was tempted to copy Leinster’s recruiting tactics in Sheehan as an emergency eight, he would be unable to Fiji as a trial run. Sheehan suffered a concussion against the Pumas and will now sit out Saturday’s game as he undergoes 12-day Return To Play protocols.
Going with Sheehan at No.8 against the world champions, with little or no repetition on the field, may be out of coach Rassie Erasmus’ school. Farrell, it is assumed, will lean towards the more conservative option. At the moment, it looks like either Cian Prendergast or Baird-Van der Flier-Timoney for a date with the Boks.
‘I love playing with two such exciting players’
Two of the most exciting parts of Friday’s win over Argentina were the form of Sam Prendergast and the back line he played for most of the night.
Farrell must have loved being able to choose Mack Hansen, Rob Baloucoune and Hugo Keenan as his back three. As it turned out, it looked just as good from the seats at the Aviva Stadium as it did on paper. That trio was electric and Irish fans were delighted by the quick pace of Baloucoune and Keenan.
Those three backs combined for 40 carries, 235 yards gained, three tackles, two assist tackles, eight line breaks and 11 defenders lost. Hansen (ankle) and Baloucoune (cramp) have been in the wars, but Farrell will be back in the fold if all three are fit for South Africa.
“I love playing with these two guys,” Keenan offered after the match. “Obviously, I haven’t played with Mack for a long time. We’ve both been injured at different times and we have such a good relationship. He’s been brilliant for me when he’s injured and vice versa, I’d like to think the same.”
“Myself and Rob go back to the Sevens days so we have a strong connection with it – playing together in Hong Kong in 2017 and 2018. It’s great to see it, almost eight years later, being in Avava playing for Ireland with them. They are two such exciting players and I enjoy playing with them.
“And as I mentioned before, we’ve got Jimmy (O’Brien), Jacob (Stockdale), Tommy (O’Brien) knocking on the door as well. Jamie (Osborne) is obviously coming in at fullback. We’ve been pushing each other, and each other, in training. He’s got good competition with them as well.”
If we all play to our potential, there is room for all of us in the team. We’re just trying to help each other and grow together.
Many of us on the field on Friday were double and triple checking to make sure Farrell was right, after the game. Has Keenan really not played a test match at home for 21 months? It was true. He last played in green, in his hometown, in March 2025 against France. He went from ever-ready full-back to onlooker and cheerleader as Hansen and Jamie Osborne tried on that 15 jersey.
“I’m a fan when I’m not on the pitch,” he insisted. “Yeah, I’d love to be there, but you’re supporting your team. You’re still part of the team. I was involved in the Six Nations there. I was in camp with the lads in November, when Mack was doing well.”
“Mack was so good to me during the Lions when he was injured. He picked me up (after the game) when I tried it in the second Test.”
“To see him make the day (for Ireland last November) against Australia, get a hat-trick, get man of the match, it was great, and I was absolutely delighted for him. And I celebrated with him in that week or two afterwards. together I think that’s the best way to do it.”
Ireland are suddenly in line with back-three options and have real competition at blindside and openside. What will worry Farrell is that glut of No.8 injuries and the lack of Garry Ringrose to turn to in this window.
However, as we have seen, life and rugby are constantly moving. The next man is not just a mentality. That is the reality. Ireland has some gaps to fill and the next lad to step in will no doubt have a story to tell of doubt, wavering belief and support from those around him.
On to the next one.
