Ireland women's national rugby league team
| Team information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Governing body | Rugby League Ireland | |
| Region | Europe | |
| Head coach | Matt Kennerson | |
| Captain | Storm Cobain | |
| Top try-scorer | Ali Coleman 5 Storm Cobain 5 | |
| Top point-scorer | Storm Cobain 46 (5 tries, 13 goals) | |
| Home stadium | Energia Park | |
| IRL ranking | 8 (17 November 2025)[1] | |
| Uniforms | ||
| ||
| Team results | ||
| First international | ||
| Ireland 26 – 24 Wales at Colwyn Bay, 17 October 2021 | ||
| Biggest win | ||
| Ireland 42 – 6 Netherlands at Sassenheim, 4 October 2025 | ||
| Biggest defeat | ||
| Ireland 4 – 44 Wales 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.
Ireland first fielded a women's Rugby League team in October 2021, winning their inaugural Test Match against Wales.
Head to head records
| Opponent | FM | MR | M | W | D | L | Win% | PF | PA | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | 2021 | 2024 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 33.33% | 40 | 96 | 29.41% |
| Italy | 2022 | 2022 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | 30 | 6 | 83.33% |
| Canada | 2022 | 2025 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 50.00% | 14 | 42 | 25.00% |
| Netherlands | 2024 | 2024 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | 58 | 18 | 76.32% |
| Greece | 2024 | 2024 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00% | 42 | 6 | 87.50% |
| France | 2025 | 2025 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 4 | 34 | 10.53% |
| Nigeria | 2025 | 2025 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 0 | 10 | 0.00% |
| Totals | 2021 | 2025 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 54.54% | 188 | 212 | 47.00% |
Notes:
- Table last updated 29 October 2025.
- Share is the portion of "For" points compared to the sum of "For" and "Against" points.
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 extended squad named by Rugby League Ireland ahead of the 2025 World Series Qualifier for the 2026 World Cup.[4] The squad of 33 included the 19 players that were previously selected for the match against France on 12 July 2025. Orlaith McAuliffe was named captain for that match.[5]
A squad of 20 players for the match against the Netherlands was announced on 1 October ahead of their fixture on 4 October 2025. On social media the team was listed in alphabetical order of the players' given names, from Aifric Ni Ghibne to Storm Cobain.[6] Amelia Newtown was added to the extended squad for the Netherlands match.
Jersey numbers reflect, and tallies in the table include, the match against the Netherlands on 4 October 2025.
| J# | Player | Age | Position(s) | Club | Profile | Debut | M | T | G | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aimee Clarke | – | Fullback, Wing | Dublin City Exiles | Yes | 2025 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Lena Kibler | – | Wing, Scrum-half | Dublin City Exiles | Yes | 2025 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Stephanie Carroll | – | Centre, Wing | Mount Pritchard Mounties | No | 2021 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| 4 | Mollie Young | 23 | Centre | Leigh Leopards | Yes | 2022 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 5 | Cliodhna O'Sullivan | – | Wing, Stand-off | Dublin City Exiles | Yes | 2024 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | Emma Kelly | – | Stand-off | Dublin City Exiles | Yes | 2025 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Jade Walker | – | Scrum-half, Stand-off | London Broncos | No | 2024 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Aifric Ni Ghibne | – | Prop, Fullback | Engadine Dragons | Yes | 2025 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Niamh Griffin | – | Hooker | Dublin City Exiles | Yes | 2024 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Stacy Hanley | 30 | Prop, Second-row | Engadine Dragons | Yes | 2022 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 11 | Storm Cobain | 27 | Second-row, Loose forward | Leigh Leopards | Yes | 2021 | 9 | 5 | 13 | 46 |
| 12 | Anna Potterton | – | Second-row, Centre | Dublin City Exiles | Yes | 2024 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Iona McCusker | – | Loose forward | London Broncos | No | 2021 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| 14 | Polly Roberts | – | Hooker | London Broncos | No | 2024 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Molly Boyne | 28 | Second-row | Dublin City Exiles | Yes | 2025 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Becky Webb | 29 | Second-row | Widnes Vikings | Yes | 2025 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Katie Ann McCallion | – | Hooker | Bainbridge Broncos | No | 2025 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Amelia Newton | – | Loose forward | Swinton Lions | No | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | Caoimhe Molloy | – | Loose forward | Dublin City Exiles | Yes | 2024 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| – | Orlaith McAuliffe | – | Prop, Loose forward | Dublin City Exiles | Yes | 2022 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | Aine Rutley | – | Second-row, Prop | Dublin City Exiles | Yes | 2024 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | Alice Fitzgerald | – | Wing | Dublin City Exiles | No | 2024 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| – | Holly O'Dwyer | 26 | Wing, Centre | Galway Tribeswomen | Yes | 2024 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| – | Jemma Gallagher | – | Prop | Corrimal Cougars | No | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | Katie Ann O'Neill | – | Centre, Second-row | Dublin City Exiles | Yes | 2025 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | Lily Rogan | 21 | Centre, Wing | Wests Tigers | Yes | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | Lisa Callan | – | Second-row | Dublin City Exiles | Yes | 2022 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | Lydia Egan | – | Prop | Salford Red Devils | No | 2024 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | Martha Dwyer | – | Lock | Aspley Devils | No | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | Megan Preston | 30 | Hooker, Centre | Huddersfield Giants | Yes | 2024 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| – | Rachel Morton | – | Prop | Bainbridge Broncos | No | 2024 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | Roisin Crowe | – | Fullback | Engadine Dragons | Yes | 2021 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | Sarah Madison Boyle | – | Prop | Mount Pritchard Mounties | No | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | Tricia Doyle | – | Second-row, interchange | Aspley Devils | No | 2024 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Results
Full internationals
| Date | Opponent | Score[a] | Tournament | Venue | Video | Reports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Oct 2021 | Wales | 26–24 | Test Match | Stadiwm ZipWorld, Colwyn Bay | [7] | [8][9] |
| 11 Jun 2022 | Italy | 30–6 | European Championships B | Pasian Di Pato Rugby Stadium, Udine | [10] | [11][12][13] |
| 8 Oct 2022 | Wales | 4–44 | Energia Park, Dublin | — | [14][15] | |
| 25 Oct 2022 | Canada | 8–6 | Test Match | Orrell St James Rugby League Club, Wigan | — | [16] |
| 27 Apr 2024 | Wales | 10–28 | WC Qualifier (Euro Group A) | Cardiff University Sports Fields | [17] | [18][19] |
| 19 May 2024 | Netherlands | 16–12 | Energia Park, Dublin | [20] | [21] | |
| 12 Oct 2024 | Greece | 42–6 | WC Qualifier (Euro Playoff) | Gkorytsa Stadium, Aspropygos, Athens | [22] | [23] |
| 12 July 2025 | France | 4–34 | Test Match | Garda RFC, Westmanstown Sports Centre, Dublin | — | [24] |
| 4 Oct 2025 | Netherlands | 42–6 | Test Match | Rugby Club The Bassetts. Sassenheim | [25] | [26] |
| 21 Oct 2025 | Nigeria | 0–10 | World Series | Terry Fox Stadium, Brampton, Ontario | — | [27] |
| 26 Oct 2025 | Canada | 6–36 | Terry Fox Stadium, Brampton, Ontario | — | [28] |
See also
Notes
- ^ Ireland score given first
References
- ^ "IRL World Rankings: Women". International Rugby League. 17 November 2025. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
- ^ "Two Saints Women in Ireland Women's Train On Squad". saintsrlfc.com. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ "RLI announce Women's Head Coach". Rugby League Ireland. 27 January 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Ireland name extended squad for IRL Women's World Series". European Rugby League. 18 September 2025. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
- ^ "Ireland and France name squads for Women's Senior International". European Rugby League. 11 July 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "Team News - RLI vs Netherlands". facebook. Rugby League Ireland. 1 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
- ^ "Highlights - Wales vs Ireland Women - Ireland's first-ever International Women's Rugby League Match". YouTube. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
- ^ Fletcher, Charlotte (18 October 2021). "Match Report: Wales Women v Ireland Women". Rugby League Ireland. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ "Wales 24 v 26 Ireland - Match Report". European Rugby League. 17 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
- ^ "Italia League vs Irlanda League - Europeo 2022/highlights, mete ed interviste". YouTube. Delinquenzaovale. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ "Italy 6 v 30 Ireland - Match Report". European Rugby League. 11 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
- ^ "Rugby League: Troppa Irlanda Per L'Italia League Femminile". Non Professional Rugby. 11 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
- ^ "Women take win against Italy". Rugby League Ireland. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
- ^ "Match Report - Ireland 4 v 44 Wales". Wales Rugby League. 8 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ "Ireland 4 v 44 Wales - Match Report". European Rugby League. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ "Canada 6 v 8 Ireland - Match report". European Rugby League. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
- ^ "Cymru v Ireland Highlights". facebook. Welsh Rugby League - Rygbi Cynghrair Cymru. 29 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ Golden, Ian (27 April 2024). "Merched – Wales 28 Ireland 10". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ "Wales 28 v 10 Ireland - Match report". European Rugby League. 27 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "Ireland v The Netherlands Women's World Cup Qualifier". YouTube. Steve Hogan. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ "Ireland 16 v 12 Netherlands - Match report". European Rugby League. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
- ^ "Greece vs Ireland, Rugby League World Cup Qualifier". YouTube. Greek Rugby League Federation. 12 October 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
- ^ "Greece 6 v 42 Ireland - Match Report". European Rugby League. 12 October 2024. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
- ^ "Ireland 4 v 34 France - Match Report". European Rugby League. 12 July 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ "Netherlands vs Ireland - European Rugby League Women". YouTube. Nederlandse Rugby League Bond. 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
- ^ "Netherlands 6 v 42 Ireland - Match Report". European Rugby League. 4 October 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
- ^ "IRL Women's Rugby League World Series: Ireland 0 10 Nigeria". International Rugby League. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
- ^ "IRL Women's Rugby League World Series: Canada 26 6 Ireland". International Rugby League. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ireland national rugby league team.