Ireland's first ever Women's Rugby World Cup semi-final appearance turned into a nightmare outing as dominant England hit them with 40 unanswered points in Paris.

Ahead of this evening’s highly anticipated women’s rugby World Cup semi-finals, take a look at the epic journey so far.

There are any numbers of stories and statistics by which you could measure the progress made by an Irish women’s rugby side which, in Paris this evening, will fight for the right to feature in their first World Cup final.

When your day job involves clambering up cranes and lots of heavy lifting, lining out against the "old enemy" in a World Cup semi-final is unlikely to shatter your nerves.

Ireland Women's rugby coach Philip Doyle has named the same side that overcame New Zealand for their Women's Rugby World Cup semi-final against England tomorrow.

New Zealand 14 Ireland 17

Tania Rosser will win her 50th international cap against her native New Zealand when Ireland face the World Cup champions in Paris this afternoon.

The Ireland Women's team to play New Zealand in the second round of the IRB Women's Rugby World Cup has been named.

Niamh Briggs accumulated 18 points as Ireland outfought and outfoxed a physical USA team to begin the Women's Rugby World Cup in winning style.

Meet the women representing Ireland at the Women’s Rugby World Cup in France, with the first match at 4pm this evening.

Four years ago at the Women’s Rugby World Cup in Surrey, Kildare’s Jenny Murphy watched Philip Doyle’s team from the stands.

The Ireland Women fell just short of a first ever win on French soil as the home side held on to win their first Six Nations title and Grand Slam since 2005.

Ireland’s Lynne Cantwell will win her 83rd cap in tomorrow’s Six Nations clash with Grand Slam chasing France.

Italy Women 3 Ireland Women 6

Standing on the cusp of a Grand Slam facing a side you beat 40-10 last year can be a precarious perch.

RBS Six Nations Women's Championship

Six Nations Ladies

England Women 23 Ireland Women 6

Ireland Women's coach Philip Doyle has made one change for the final game of this year's RBS 6 Nations against England as the team target a triple crown win.

Ireland women 20 Scotland women 0

Ireland Women 36 Wales Women 0, Ashbourne RFC

Niamh Kavanagh scored two tries to break the back of Italian resistance as the Ireland Women’s team recorded their first Six Nations win off the season at Ashbourne last night.

France Women 8 Ireland Women 7

Ireland women 10 Wales women 3, Ashbourne RFC (Match abandoned at half-time due to frozen pitch)

Ireland coach Philip Doyle has named two uncapped players in his side for Friday’s Women’s 6 Nations clash against Wales (Ashbourne RFC, 7.30pm).

Ireland Women's coach Kevin West has made three changes, bringing in hooker Gillian Bourke, openside Sinead Ryan and wing Nora Stapleton to start against Scotland in the Six Nations at Ashbourne on Friday night.

IRISH U20 coach Allen Clarke has shuffled his deck for tomorrow night’s Six Nations clash with Wales at Dubarry Park, (7.35pm, RTÉ Two).

IRELAND coach Steven Hennessy has made one personnel and two positional changes to the side which defeated Italy in Collefero a fortnight ago for Friday’s Women’s Six Nations clash against England at St. Mary’s College, Templeogue (6.30).

Ireland women’s coach Steven Hennessy has named his side to face England for their clash on Friday in St Mary’s College, Templeogue (kick off: 6.30pm).

The Ireland U20 team shows several changes from last week’s game against France for the sides next outing against Italy in Piacenza on Saturday in the Beltrametti Stadium.

IRELAND finished third in the FIRA Women’s European Championship in Amsterdam after they drew 22-22 with France on Saturday.

Ireland 22 France 22

The Irish women's rugby team have travelled to Amsterdam to compete in the upcoming FIRA European Women’s Championship.

The Irish rugby squad for the upcoming FIRA Women’s European Championship has been announced.

UL-Bohs are aiming for an unprecedented seventh women's first division title in a row this weekend as they face Blackrock at Nenagh RFC.

IRELAND got their Six Nations campaign back on track last night as they ground out a solid victory over Scotland at Templeville Road.

Ireland 13 Scotland 3

Ireland 19 Italy 0

Ireland coach John O'Sullivan has named an experienced team to take on Italy on Friday at Templeville Road.

YOU can tell as much about a sport by watching its fans as the games.

Ireland 0 England 32

WALES 10 IRELAND 5

Ireland women’s coach John O’Sullivan has named his first Six Nations squad with 22 players announced for the opening clash against Wales.

The Ireland women's team have taken a leaf out of their male counterparts' book by hiring a head coach who hails from Cork by the name of O'Sullivan.