'Really exciting' - Ireland draw champions New Zealand, Japan and Spain in Women's RWC
POOL C: Ireland will face a rematch with defending World Cup champions New Zealand at next year's Women's Rugby World Cup in England.
Ireland will face a rematch with defending World Cup champions New Zealand at next year's Women's Rugby World Cup in England.
The draw for next year's tournament took place this evening with Scott Bemand's side ranked sixth seeds and were pulled in Pool C alongside the Black Ferns, Japan and Spain for next year's tournament.
Ireland stunned New Zealand at the WXV1 in Canada narrowly defeating them 29-27 to send shockwaves through the tournament. Ireland went on to finish in second place behind England in the tournament after they defeated USA and lost to Canada.
Ireland famously knocked the Black Ferns out of the 2014 instalment of the tournament en route to a fourth place finish and was the last time the faced off at a World Cup.
Ireland renew their rivalry with Spain in the tournament which kicks off on August 22 2025. Spain defeated Ireland in the repechage for the 2021 World Cup.
Ireland lock Sam Monaghan, who missed the WXV1 tournament due to injury, is exited about the pool and looking forward to the 2025 RWC.
"Really exciting. The group is quite familiar from the last couple of years. We went on tour to Japan a couple of years ago. We played Spain last year in WX3 and New Zealand who we have just beaten so obviously we can take confidence from that.
"An exciting group."
Monaghan spoke about the confidence the Irish side will bring to the competition next year after their second place finish at the WXV1 and defeating the Black Ferns in their first game of the tournament.
"We will take confidence from that Japan have kicked on in the last couple of years. They had a decent WXV tournament so they’re always an exciting and clinical team to play.
"That was a hard win against Spain in the third tier of WXV last year. They’ve got some serious pace with some of their Sevens players coming back in as well. They’re an exciting team to play. Quite a passionate team.
"And then New Zealand… I’m buzzing to play them. I know they’ll definitely be up for a rematch as well."
Ireland have found themselves on an upward trajectory after their wooden spoon finish in the 2023 Six Nations. They finished third in the 2024 competition which guarenteed their place at the RWC and their second place finish in Canada which will give Bemand's side belief heading into a busy year in 2025.
“That group is so resilient. The hard work they do for each other off the pitch, it showed in those performances in WXV.
"It’s really important now that we stay connected as as group so it’s really important that we go back to our clubs and try to strengthen our individual performances and when we come back to the Six Nations that we’re hitting the ground running."
Speaking on her ACL injury, Monaghan is working hard to get back out on the pitch.
"I was back running today, not at full body weight but at 70% just to get into the mechanics of it. Working really hard.
"That WXV performance really inspired my rehab for the next couple of weeks so I’m itching to get onto the pitch as soon as possible with the girls."
Hosts England are in Pool A along with Australia, USA and Samoa. Canada have been drawn in Pool B with Scotland, Wales and Fiji.
France will face fellow Six Nations side Italy, South Africa and Brazil.
Pool A: England, Australia, USA, Samoa
Pool B: Canada, Scotland, Wales, Fiji
Pool C: New Zealand, Ireland, Japan, Spain
Pool D: France, Italy, South Africa, Brazil.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
