IRL World Series 2025: Ireland name extended squad

Ireland’s women are looking to make history as they prepare for the inaugural IRL Women’s Rugby League World Series 2025. The country's men have qualified for five World Cup tournaments, from 2000-2022, but the women have yet to achieve that high watermark.

Victory in the World Series in Canada in October would see the Irish women gain the final berth in the 2026 IRL Women’s Rugby League World Cup, to be played in Australia and Papua New Guinea. 

Ireland coach, Matt Kennerson has picked an initial 33-strong squad for the trip to Brampton, Ontario where his charges will take on Nigeria for the right to meet either Canada or Fiji in the decider for a place in the World Cup.

Kennerson is happy with the preparations to date.

“We’ve had the UK-based players and Ireland-based ones training together for about a year and a half,” he said. “In the early days it was held in the UK but we found that as more of the squad was based in Ireland, and we could get free facilities here, we decided to move it back home and that was great for the women here because it really showed them a pathway for the local competition.”

The Ireland squad includes players from the three domestic sides, Dublin City Exiles – who have the most representatives with 13 - Galway Tribeswomen and Bainbridge Broncos, aided by RLI receiving significant funding since 2021 from Sport Ireland for women’s development.

Kennerson can see further growth as a result of the World Cup qualifying process.

“The domestic competition is increasing and improving, the standard is getting better, and we’ve got a lot more interest from players who play in the premier rugby union competition who are converting over the summer, which is good," he said.

Like their World Series rivals, Kennerson has named a cosmopolitan mix, including Trisha Doyle and Stephanie Carroll who have moved from Dublin City to play in Australia.

Photo: Ireland internationals Martha Dwyer and Trisha Doyle play for Aspley Devils in Queensland (Moxie Management).  

“We’ve got two girls coming over to train and then play against the Netherlands in a warm up game on October 4 prior to heading off to Canada, we’ve got pretty good preparation to get some kind of continuity as a team for the World Series.”

Kennerson admits he knows little about his opponents but expects Fiji to be the favourites, if they can bring their strongest squad.

“It’s really tricky. I’ve only been able to find one game that shows the Nigerian girls playing, we did face Canada before the last World Cup over in the UK and beat them 8-6, but I’m assuming all the squads have changed," Kennerson said.

“The dream would be to get to the 2026 World Cup, it’s something we’ve been focused on for the last year or two, trying to get as many games under our belts as possible to give the girls experience.

"To have an opportunity to be involved in a tournament like that would be amazing for the players but also for the sport in Ireland which would bring greater funding, recognition and a platform for the women to be seen on a major international stage.”

Photo: Wests Tigers back Lilly Rogan is the only NRLW player in the Ireland squad (NRL Photos)

Kennerson is eagerly anticipating what the World Series offers as Ireland’s next building block.

“We got to go to Wales and Greece, hang out in camp and eat together, even being recognized in airports; playing in stadiums and being around other international teams, it’s amazing for the girls and us as an organization," he said. "It shows we’re progressing and moving in the right direction. We have the potential to do the unthinkable.

“Win, lose or draw, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these young athletes.”

Ireland Women's World Series squad

Martha Dwyer, Trisha Doyle (Aspley Devils), Katie Ann McCallion, Rachel Morton (Bainbridge Broncos), Jemma Gallagher (Corrimal Cougars), Molly Boyne, Lisa Callan, Aimee Clarke, Alice Fitzgerald, Niamh Griffin, Emma Kelly, Lena Kibler, Orlaith McAuliffe, Caoimhe Molloy, Katie Ann O'Neill, Cliodhna O'Sullivan, Anna Potterton, Aine Rutley (Dublin City Exiles), Roisin Crowe (Engadine Dragons), Stacy Hanley, Aifric Ni Ghibne, Holly O'Dwyer (Galway Tribeswomen), Megan Preston (Huddersfield Giants), Storm Cobain, Molly Young (Leigh Leopards), Iona Mcusker, Polly Roberts, Jade Walker (London Broncos), Stephanie Carroll, Sarah Madison Boyle (Mounties), Lydia Egan (Salford Red Devils), Lilly Rogan (Wests Tigers), Becky Webb (Widnes Vikings)

IRL Women's World Series 2025

Venue: Terry Fox Stadium, Brampton, Ontario

Tuesday, October 21
Semi-final: Ireland v Nigeria (3.30pm)
Semi-final: Canada v Fiji (6pm)

Sunday, October 26
Third-place play-off: Semi-final losers (1pm)
Final: Semi-final winners (3.30pm)