female
international women
Ireland a huge blow was dealt in front of them South Africa tour, with Six Nations Championship player Aoife Wafer has been ruled out of the two-match series.
Wafer played on her team WXV Global Series opener vs USA Women’s Eagles in Dublin, but missed back-to-back games against Japan in the past two weeks.
Irish Rugby has not confirmed the nature of Wafer’s injury. Her club, Harlequins, have confirmed that the 23-year-old has undergone successful surgery and will miss the start of the JAECOO Premiership women’s rugby season.
The 30-man squad selected by Bemand is also without Sam Monaghan, who suffered a campaign-ending Achilles injury in September. Ruth Campbell has recovered from an ankle injury and is touring South Africa.
Erin King continues to captain the side, which travels to South Africa next Thursday ahead of back-to-back matches against the Springbok Women in Cape Town on Saturday 24 and Saturday 31 October.
The team also includes recent additions Beth Buttimer, Jemima Adams Verling, Kate Jordan, Sophie Barrett and Alana McInerney.
Ireland head to South Africa after a week of away training and back-to-back wins against Japan. However, their WXV Global Series campaign was a mixed bag, with a 40-36 loss to the USA followed by a 31-24 win over Japan. They also beat Sakura Fifteen 43-19 in an away match in Cork.
They will face a South African team that lost 50-19 Wales in their opening match of the WXV Global Series, but ended their time in Europe with wins against Italy and Spain.
Irish touring squad | WXV Global Series 2026
Forward
Beth Buttimer (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)(2)
Brittany Hogan (Sale Sharks)(46)
Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs) (55)
Dorothy Wall (Exeter Chiefs) (44)
Elizabeth Cahill (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster) (7)
Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(15)(Captain)
Fiona Tuite-O’Sullivan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)(28)
Grace Moore (Munster) (30)
Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)(3)
Jemima Adams Verling (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)(3)
Kate Jordan (Blackrock College/Leinster)(1)
Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) (60)
Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury) (49)
Niamh O’Dowd (Gloucester-Hartpury) (25)
Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(17)
Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster) (24)
Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen RFC/Cooke RFC/Ulster)(1)
The back
Alana McInerney (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)(1)
Anna McGann (Railway Union RFC/Connacht)(20)
Aoifeann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connaught) (22)
Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(36)
Bevinn Parsons (Blackrock College/Connacht) (38)
Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(38)
Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)(28)
Enya Breen (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)(34)
Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)(39)
Niamh Gallagher (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby)(4)
Robyn O’Connor (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(6)
Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)(31)
Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC/Leinster)(8)