Navan's Monaghan returns to captain Ireland | Meath Chronicle

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Navan's Monaghan returns to captain Ireland

WOMEN'S RUGBY

Published: Fri 1 Aug 2025, 11:34 AM

Navan's Sam Monaghan will put over a year of injury misery behind her when she captain's Ireland in their Rugby World Cup warm-up match against Scotland in Cork on Saturday, 2pm.

Second row Monaghan suffered an ACL injury when playing for Gloucester Hartpury in the English Premiership final in June 2024 and has worked hard to return.

Her recovery is a timely boost for head coach Scott Bemand who will be without influential forwards Erin King (knee) and Dorothy Wall (ankle) for the World Cup, which begins for Ireland on 24 August against Japan in Northampton, while star back row Aoife Wafer (knee) is in a race against time to be fit for the tournament.

"It was really emotional seeing my name on the teamsheet again, not only for me but for my family, teammates, everyone who's been on the journey with me: physios, S&Cs. It's been a long road, a lot longer than I thought it would be," said Monaghan.

"Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel was very special but it's given me chances. I missed out on the Six Nations but I got the chance to sit out in the crowd, so I got to be part of that and see how powerful the girls' performances are on the pitch.

"Hopefully I can add value on Saturday after what they've built over the last couple of years. It's been a great year for us. We didn't finish the Six Nations the way we wanted but I feel like we've had a really strong pre-season and we're really excited for Saturday.

"Injuries are always so tough. We've such a strong connection as a group so when we lose someone we really feel it, on and off the pitch they are such big characters. But they (King and Wall) are both working extremely hard and I know how tough a journey it can be.

"After coming out of a long injury myself I am really gutted for them but I've no doubt they'll come back stronger. High level sport... It's given the opportunity for someone else to come in and we've had other girls come in and put their hand up and really perform.

"It's about empowering those girls to do what they've been doing in preseason and giving them the ability to do it on the pitch on Saturday.

"You build up a hunger. It's kind of like you've been starving for the last 13 months and you finally get your opportunity. I'm sure I'll really savour every moment and just want to do the best I can for the squad around me."

Bemand also welcomes back Béibhinn Parsons who has recovered from a broken leg suffered on Sevens duty.

Ireland face Canada in Belfast on Saturday week and the 32-player squad for the World Cup will be named on Monday 11 August. Pool C at the World Cup also includes Spain and New Zealand.

Scotland beat Ireland in the last round of the Six Nations, in which Ireland finished third for the second year in a row.

Ireland - Méabh Deely; Béibhinn Parsons, Nancy McGillivray, Eve Higgins, Amee-Leigh Costigan; Dannah O'Brien, Molly Scuffil-McCabe; Siobhán McCarthy, Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald, Sadhbh McGrath; Eimear Corri-Fallon, Sam Monaghan (capt); Grace Moore, Ivana Kiripati, Brittany Hogan. Replacements - Neve Jones, Niamh O'Dowd, Linda Djougang, Fiona Tuite, Deirbhile Nic a Bháird, Ailish Quinn, Emily Lane, Enya Breen.

Published: Fri 1 Aug 2025, 11:34 AM