women
international women
Ireland Head coach Scott Bemand is confident Ireland are ready to “embrace the challenge” of the nation’s second meeting with the Springbok Women.
The last time the two teams played was two decades ago. That afternoon Ireland won 37-0 in the women’s competition Rugby World Cup 2006 group stages.
Neve Jones will earn her 50th cap for Ireland in the game. Prostitute Gloucester Hartpury starts in the front row alongside Linda Djougang and Eilís Cahill.
Jane Clohessy partners Dorothy Wall in the key, Brittany Hogan takes the No.8 jersey and Aoife Wafer is injured, joined by captain Erin King and Fiona Tuite-O’Sullivan in the back row.
Emily Lane and Dannah O’Brien have been named as half-back partners. Aoife Dalton and Anna McGann combine in midfield, while Robyn O’Connor, Béibhinn Parsons and Stacey Flood form the back three.
To begin with WXV Global Series In 2026, Ireland had mixed fortunes. They started the fall with a 40-36 loss USA Women’s Eagles, before returning to winning ways Japan Galway. A win outside the window against Sakura Fifteen in Cork a week later will steady the ship a bit more.
Scott Bemand, Ireland head coach, said: “We have reset well after the recent home game and are ready to take on the challenge of playing away from home. The team has worked incredibly hard since arriving here in Cape Town last week, and there is a real determination to continue to develop and develop our game during this tour.
“Testing ourselves in tough environments against top opposition is vital to our development and we want to see that resilience and character in our performance on Saturday. We know the challenge South Africa bring, but we are excited about the opportunity.”
Ireland 23rd Match v South Africa | WXV Global Series 2026
15. Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC/Leinster, 31 caps)
14. Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College/Connacht, 38 games)
13. Anna McGann (Railway Union RFC/Connacht, 20 caps)
12. Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster, 36 caps)
11. Robyn O’Connor (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster, 6 games)
10. Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster, 38 caps)
9. Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC/Munster, 28 games)
1. Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster, 60 games)
2. Neve Jones (Gloucester Hartpury, 49 games)
3. Elís Cahill (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster, 7 appearances)
4. Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster, 3 appearances)
5. Dorothy Wall (Exeter Chiefs, 44 games)
6. Fiona Tuite-O’Sullivan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster, 28 caps)
7. Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster, 15 caps, captain)
8. Brittany Hogan (Sale Sharks, 46 games)
Substitutions
16. Beth Buttimer (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster, 2 appearances)
17. Niamh O’Dowd (Gloucester Hartpury, 25 games)
18. Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster, 24 caps)
19. Kate Jordan (Blackrock College/Leinster, 1 appearance)
20. Grace Moore (Munster, 30 games)
21. Jemima Adams Verling (Galwegians RFC/Connacht, 3 games)
22. Aoifeann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connaught, 22 games)
23. Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC/Leinster, 39 caps)
