Ireland's Aoife Wafer fit to face France in Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final

The Six Nations player of the tournament missed Ireland’s pool games due to a knee injury.

Fri, 12 Sep, 2025 - 10:47

Simon Lewis

Aoife Wafer has been passed fit to face France in Ireland’s Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final in Exeter on Sunday.

The Six Nations player of the tournament missed Ireland’s pool games due to a knee injury as Scott Bemand's side reached the knockout stages in second place behind defending champions New Zealand.

It was thought the back rower might have been re-introduced to face the Black Ferns in Brighton last Sunday, a game which Ireland lost 40-0, consignment then to that runner-up finish in Pool C.

Yet Wafer is now set for her tournament debut and has been selected in the back row at openside flanker in a trio featuring Fiona Tuite at blindside and Brittany Hogan at No.8 for the clash at Sandy Park (kick-off 1pm).

Eve Higgins' versatility makes her central to Ireland's plan A and B

Stacey Flood, Béibhinn Parsons and Amee-Leigh Costigan are named to start in an unchanged Ireland back three, with Eve Higgins and Aoife Dalton continue their centre partnership, while scrum-half Aoibheann Reilly once again lines up alongside number 10 Dannah O'Brien in the half-backs.

In the front five of the forward pack , Niamh O'Dowd, Neve Jones and Linda Djougang form the front row, with Ruth Campbell selected in the second row alongside captain Sam Monaghan.

Wafer's selection in the number seven jersey sees her replace Monaghan's co-captain Edel McMahon, who was forced off through injury in Brighton last Sunday.

Also passed fit after missing the New Zealand defeat is loosehead prop Ellena Perry, withdrawn before kick-off last Sunday but named among the replacements by Bemand on Friday.

The rest of the Ireland bench is.made up of forwards Clíodhna Moloney MacDonald, Ellena Perry, Sadhbh McGrath, Eimear Corri-Fallon and Grace Moore, with Emily Lane, Enya Breen and Anna McGann the backline cover.

IRELAND (v France)

15. Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)

14. Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)

13. Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)

12. Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)

11. Amee-Leigh Costigan (Railway Union RFC/Munster)

10. Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)

9. Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)

1. Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)

2. Neve Jones (Gloucester Hartpury)

3. Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)

4. Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)