Ireland Women Prepare for WXV Global Series Opener Against USA at Tallaght Stadium on Sunday
Ireland Women's rugby team prepare to host the USA Women's Eagles at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin on Sunday in their opening fixture of the 2026 WXV Global Series, with head coach Scott Bemand naming a squad built around the formidable back row of Player of the Championship Aoife Wafer, captain Erin King, and Brittany Hogan, as the IRFU simultaneously awaits a decision on its bid to join Premiership Women's Rugby — a development that could transform the landscape of the women's game on the island of Ireland.
Background
The WXV Global Series is World Rugby's flagship women's international competition, designed to provide regular, high-quality international rugby for the world's leading women's teams outside the Women's Six Nations and Rugby World Cup windows. The 2026 edition introduces a new home-and-away cross-regional touring model that gives host nations the opportunity to showcase women's rugby to domestic audiences, and Ireland's decision to host their opening fixture at Tallaght Stadium in south Dublin is a significant statement of intent about the ambitions of the women's programme.
Ireland enter the series in strong form. The team finished third in the 2026 Women's Six Nations, a campaign that included a record home crowd of 31,294 at the Aviva Stadium — a figure that underlines the growing appetite for women's rugby in Ireland and the commercial potential of the game at the highest level. Aoife Wafer, the Leinster and Ireland back row forward, won the Player of the Championship award for the second consecutive year, cementing her status as one of the best players in the world game.
The USA Women's Eagles, under head coach Jack Hanratty, are in a developmental phase with a long-term focus on the 2033 Women's Rugby World Cup. The squad is co-captained by Sale Sharks pair Georgie Perris-Redding and Erica Jarrell-Searcy, and features 19-year-old playmaker Bella Vogel as an emerging talent. The Eagles have been refining their kicking strategy and skillset throughout the year, and they will arrive in Dublin with a point to prove against a higher-ranked opponent.
Key Developments
Sunday's fixture at Tallaght Stadium will be the first Women's Test match to be played at the ground, which is the home of Shamrock Rovers and has a capacity of approximately 10,000. The IRFU has been working to develop a network of venues for women's international rugby that extends beyond the Aviva Stadium, and the Tallaght fixture is part of that strategy — bringing the game to a new audience in south Dublin and demonstrating that women's rugby can attract strong crowds at a range of venues.
Head coach Scott Bemand has spoken about the importance of the WXV series as a development opportunity for the squad, noting that the fixtures against the USA and Japan — who Ireland will host at Dexcom Stadium in Galway on 27 September — will provide valuable preparation for the 2027 Women's Six Nations and the longer-term goal of qualifying for the 2029 Women's Rugby World Cup.
The IRFU's bid to join Premiership Women's Rugby is a significant backdrop to the current season. The union submitted a formal expression of interest in April 2026, and a decision from the PWR is expected within three to four months. The potential inclusion of Irish provinces in the PWR — which is currently limited to English clubs — would provide Ireland's leading women's players with the high-intensity, weekly competition that is essential for international success. Eleven players from the current Ireland squad already compete in the PWR, and the IRFU believes that a cross-border competition would significantly accelerate the development of the women's game in Ireland.
Lynne Cantwell, the IRFU's head of women's strategy, has emphasised that any final decision on PWR participation will be made with the long-term sustainability of Irish provinces and clubs as a primary consideration. A potential merger between the PWR and the Celtic Challenge — the current competition for Irish, Scottish, and Welsh sides — is being explored, though any such development is not expected to occur before the 2028-29 season at the earliest.
Why It Matters
Sunday's fixture is significant on multiple levels. As a sporting contest, it provides Ireland with an opportunity to demonstrate the progress made under Scott Bemand's coaching and to build momentum ahead of the 2027 Women's Six Nations. As a commercial and cultural event, it is a test of the IRFU's ability to grow the women's game beyond the established audience and to attract new fans to Tallaght Stadium.
The broader context of the IRFU's PWR bid gives the fixture additional significance. If Ireland's provinces are admitted to the PWR, the standard of domestic women's rugby in Ireland will rise dramatically, and the national team's performances at international level should improve as a result. The WXV series provides an opportunity to demonstrate to the PWR's decision-makers that Irish women's rugby has the quality, the infrastructure, and the commercial potential to compete at the highest level of the club game.
The record crowd at the Aviva Stadium during the Six Nations demonstrated that there is a substantial appetite for women's rugby in Ireland, and the IRFU is working to convert that interest into sustained engagement. The Tallaght fixture is part of that effort, and the organisation will be hoping for a strong attendance that sends a clear message about the health of the women's game in the country.
Local Impact
For the Tallaght community in south Dublin, the hosting of a Women's Test match is a significant event. The area, which has a strong sporting tradition through Shamrock Rovers and a range of GAA and athletics clubs, will be welcoming an international rugby fixture for the first time, and the IRFU has been working with local schools and community organisations to promote the match and encourage attendance.
The fixture is also significant for women's rugby clubs in the Leinster area, many of which have players who aspire to represent Ireland at international level. The opportunity to watch the national team in action at a local venue — rather than travelling to the Aviva Stadium — is expected to attract a strong contingent of club players and their families, providing a direct connection between the grassroots and elite levels of the game.
What's Next
Ireland face the USA at Tallaght Stadium on Sunday, 20 September, with kick-off at 13:45. The match will be broadcast live on RTÉ Sport. Following the USA fixture, Ireland host Japan at Dexcom Stadium in Galway on 27 September, before travelling to South Africa for the final fixture of the WXV series in October. The IRFU's PWR decision is expected before the end of 2026, with any implementation not anticipated before the 2028-29 season.
