Kate Flannery Added To RWC Squad As Preparations Continue

The IRFU today is pleased to confirm the kick off times for both warm up games for the Ireland Women’s National team as they prepare for Rugby World Cup 2025.

Ireland welcome Scotland to Cork’s Virgin Media Park on August 2nd with the game kicking off at 2pm. The teams last met in the final game of the 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations with the Scottish side coming away with a victory in the final minute of play.

Canada are the visitors in Belfast for the second game on August 9th with a 12pm kick off, which will provide the last opportunity for players to stake a claim for a RWC squad spot, with the squad being announced 48 hours later. The teams last met in the WXV1 Competition last October in Vancouver, with the hosts coming away with a 21-8 victory, despite a spirited performance by the girls in green.

Ireland completed block one of their preparation camps recently in the IRFU’s High Performance Centre and the second block begins on Monday June 30th.

With several players being called up for the Six Nations Summer Series in Wales, Head Coach Scott Bemand has taken the opportunity to bring in some fresh faces for the second camp. Connacht’s Faith Oviawe & Ailish Quinn, Munster’s Kate Flannery and Exeter Chiefs Nancy McGillivray will link up with the squad. Fresh from the Rugby Europe Sevens competition, Amy Larn will also take part as a training panellist.

Speaking about the preparation so far Bemand says;

“We assembled at the start of June, refreshed and ready to go for our first stint in camp as we look to build towards the Rugby World Cup. We had plenty of new faces in training, and with some players heading to the Six Nations Summer Series, I am really happy to be able to bring in some new names, as we look to continue to build depth within our playing group. We will be keeping a close eye on the U20 tournament, which is a fantastic opportunity for some of our younger players to put into practice things they have learnt learned over the past few weeks.

“There has been huge excitement and plenty of energy since we got back together, and we are really looking to push on now again over the next few weeks. Returning to Cork and Belfast for our two warm up games, two grounds we know well and that have seen some great performances from us over the past two years, is perfect preparation for what lies ahead. We really hope the Irish public will come out in force, join our Green Wave, and give the team a great send off before we head for England.”

Tickets are on sale here.
Accreditation for both games is open for applications here.

Additional players being added to the RWC prep squad:
(all uncapped)

Faith Oviawe (Railway Union / Connacht)
Ailish Quinn (Galwegians RFC / Connacht)
Kate Flannery (UL Bohemian / Munster)
Nancy McGillivray (Exeter Chiefs / IQ Rugby) *see note below

Training panellist:
Amy Larn (Athy RFC/ Leinster)

Fixtures:

Saturday, August 2: Ireland v Scotland, Virgin Media Park, Cork, kick off 2pm
Saturday, August 9: Ireland v Canada, Ulster Rugby Stadium, Belfast, kick off 12pm

*Note on Nancy McGillivray
Nancy finishes an England transition contract on June 30th and will link up with the Irish squad on July 1st. She is Irish qualified through a parent and plays in the centre.