Wafer Ruled Out Of Ireland's World Cup Opener

Women's Rugby World Cup - Pool C: Ireland v Japan

Venue: Franklin's Gardens, Northampton Date: Sunday, 24 August Kick-off: 12:00 BST

Coverage: Live connected BBC Two, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sport website and app.

Aoife Wafer has been ruled retired of Ireland's opening Women's Rugby World Cup lucifer against Japan arsenic she continues her comeback from knee surgery.

The 2025 Women's Six Nations subordinate of nan tourney underwent a process past period which caused her to miss Ireland's warm-up games against Scotland and Canada and she has not yet travelled to England pinch her team-mates.

The 22-year-old backmost statement was named successful caput coach Scott Bemand's squad past week but is not fresh capable to characteristic against Japan connected Sunday (12:00 BST) and has remained successful Dublin to activity connected her recovery.

As per nan rules of nan competition, nan Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) had to pass World Rugby that Wafer had not departed pinch nan squad arsenic players cannot return location during nan tourney model to dainty injuries arsenic it would beryllium viewed arsenic unfair connected those squads who person greater distances to travel.

Following their opener successful Fraklin's Gardens, Ireland look Spain connected 31 August and back-to-back world champions New Zealand connected 7 September successful their different Pool C games and nan side's adjunct coach Larissa Muldoon confirmed that Wafer will subordinate nan squad adjacent week" successful mentation looking into Spain."

Co-captain Edel McMahon, who besides did not characteristic successful either of Ireland's warm-up fixtures, is pinch nan squad and according to Muldoon "came done training" connected Tuesday pinch nary issues.

Wafer, who will subordinate Harlequins from Leinster aft nan tourney successful England, scored 4 tries for Ireland successful nan Six Nations but missed nan past crippled of nan title aft damaging knee ligaments against Wales.

Her fittingness has go progressively important for Ireland pursuing injuries to chap backmost rowers Dorothy Wall and Erin King, who will some miss nan World Cup.

Muldoon, however, has assurance successful Ireland's extent astatine nan position.

"People hide nan for illustration of Claire Boles person travel backmost in, Ivana Kiripati has travel done nan under-20s pathway," added nan erstwhile world scrum-half.

"[We have] astonishing players coming done and giving america that constituent of title successful our training situation and identity."