Ireland women's national rugby league team

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Not to be confused with Ireland women's national rugby union team.

Ireland
Team information
Governing bodyRugby League Ireland
RegionEurope
Head coachMatt Kennerson
CaptainAlex McGuinness
Top try-scorerAli Coleman 5
Top point-scorerStorm Cobain 22
(4 tries, 3 goals)
Home stadiumEnergia Park
IRL ranking 8 Decrease 1 (21 July 2025)[1]
Uniforms
First colours
Team results
First international
 Ireland 26 – 24 Wales 
at Colwyn Bay, 17 October 2021
Biggest win
 Ireland 30 – 6 Italy 
at Udine, 11 June 2022
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

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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 2022 1 1 0 0 100.00% 8 6 57.14%
 Netherlands 2024 2024 1 1 0 0 100.00% 16 12 57.14%
 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%
Totals 2021 2025 8 5 0 3 62.50% 140 160 46.67%

Notes:

  • Table last updated 13 July 2025.
  • Share is the portion of "For" points compared to the sum of "For" and "Against" points.

Coaches

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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

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The table below lists the squad named for the match against France on 12 July 2025. Orlaith McAuliffe was named captain.[4]

Tallies in the table include the match in July 2025.

J# Player Age Position(s) Club Profile Debut M T G P
1 Cliodhna O'Sullivan Fullback, Stand-off Dublin Exiles No 2024 4 0 0 0
2 Aimee Clarke Wing, Fullback Dublin Exiles No 2025 1 0 0 0
3 Anna Potterton Centre, Lock Dublin Exiles Yes 2024 2 0 0 0
4 Katie-Ann O'Neill Centre, Second-row Dublin Exiles Yes 2025 1 0 0 0
5 Holly O'Dwyer 22 Wing, Centre Galway Tribes Yes 2024 3 2 0 8
6 Emma Kelly Stand-off Dublin Exiles No 2025 1 0 0 0
7 Jade Walker Scrum-half, Stand-off  London Broncos No 2024 2 0 0 0
8 Orlaith McAuliffe Prop, Loose forward Dublin Exiles Yes 2022 3 0 0 0
9 Polly Roberts Hooker  London Broncos No 2024 2 0 0 0
10 Stacy Hanley 26 Prop, Second-row Galway Tribes Yes 2022 4 0 0 0
11 Aifric Ní Ghibne Second-row, Fullback Galway Tribes Yes 2025 1 0 0 0
12 Storm Cobain 23 Second-row, Loose forward  Leigh Leopards Yes 2021 8 4 8 32
13 Iona McCusker Loose forward  London Broncos No 2021 6 0 0 0
14 Megan Preston 26 Hooker, Centre  Huddersfield Giants Yes 2024 3 1 0 4
15 Molly Boyne 24 Second-row Dublin Exiles Yes 2025 1 0 0 0
16 Aine Rutley Second-row, Prop Dublin Exiles Yes 2024 2 0 0 0
17 Becky Webb 25 Second-row Widnes Vikings Yes 2025 1 0 0 0
18 Lena Kibler Scrum-half Dublin Exiles Yes — 0 0 0 0
19 Katie-Anne McCallion Hooker Banbridge Broncos Yes — 0 0 0 0

Results

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Full internationals

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Date Score[a] Opponent Tournament Venue Video Reports
17 Oct 2021 26–24  Wales Test Match Stadiwm ZipWorld, Colwyn Bay [5] [6][7]
11 Jun 2022 30–6  Italy European Championships B Pasian Di Pato Rugby Stadium, Udine [8] [9][10][11]
8 Oct 2022 4–44  Wales Energia Park, Dublin — [12][13]
25 Oct 2022 8–6  Canada Test Match Orrell St James Rugby League Club, Wigan — [14]
27 Apr 2024 10–28  Wales WC Qualifier (Euro Group A) Cardiff University Sports Fields [15] [16][17]
19 May 2024 16–12  Netherlands Energia Park, Dublin [18] [19]
12 Oct 2024 42–6  Greece WC Qualifier (Euro Playoff) Gkorytsa Stadium, Aspropygos, Athens [20] [21]
12 July 2025 4–34  France Test Match Garda RFC, Westmanstown Sports Centre, Dublin — [22]

Upcoming fixtures

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Ireland score given first

References

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  1. ^ "IRL World Rankings: Women". International Rugby League. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Two Saints Women in Ireland Women's Train On Squad". saintsrlfc.com. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  3. ^ "RLI announce Women's Head Coach". Rugby League Ireland. 27 January 2024. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Ireland and France name squads for Women's Senior International". European Rugby League. 11 July 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
  5. ^ "Highlights - Wales vs Ireland Women - Ireland's first-ever International Women's Rugby League Match". YouTube. 19 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  6. ^ Fletcher, Charlotte (18 October 2021). "Match Report: Wales Women v Ireland Women". Rugby League Ireland. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Wales 24 v 26 Ireland - Match Report". European Rugby League. 17 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  8. ^ "Italia League vs Irlanda League - Europeo 2022/highlights, mete ed interviste". YouTube. Delinquenzaovale. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  9. ^ "Italy 6 v 30 Ireland - Match Report". European Rugby League. 11 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  10. ^ "Rugby League: Troppa Irlanda Per L'Italia League Femminile". Non Professional Rugby. 11 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  11. ^ "Women take win against Italy". Rugby League Ireland. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  12. ^ "Match Report - Ireland 4 v 44 Wales". Wales Rugby League. 8 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  13. ^ "Ireland 4 v 44 Wales - Match Report". European Rugby League. 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  14. ^ "Canada 6 v 8 Ireland - Match report". European Rugby League. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  15. ^ "Cymru v Ireland Highlights". facebook. Welsh Rugby League - Rygbi Cynghrair Cymru. 29 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  16. ^ Golden, Ian (27 April 2024). "Merched – Wales 28 Ireland 10". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Wales 28 v 10 Ireland - Match report". European Rugby League. 27 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Ireland v The Netherlands Women's World Cup Qualifier". YouTube. Steve Hogan. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  19. ^ "Ireland 16 v 12 Netherlands - Match report". European Rugby League. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Greece vs Ireland, Rugby League World Cup Qualifier". YouTube. Greek Rugby League Federation. 12 October 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  21. ^ "Greece 6 v 42 Ireland - Match Report". European Rugby League. 12 October 2024. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  22. ^ "Ireland 4 v 34 France - Match Report". European Rugby League. 12 July 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  23. ^ "Canada to host historic IRL Women's World Series". International Rugby League. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  24. ^ Walter, Brad (21 March 2025). "Unfinished business: Bulikula set for World Series in Canada". NRL. Retrieved 21 March 2025.
  25. ^ "IRL Women's World Series 2025: Venue and kick-off times confirmed". International Rugby League. 9 July 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
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