Aoibheann Reilly (left) and Béibhinn Parsons seen here celebrating gold medal success with the Ireland women’s seven team in Perth, Australia in early 2024. Photo: INPHO/Travis Hayto.

Reilly and Parsons to start World Cup opener

Kieran Galvin

Published: Fri 22 Aug 2025, 1:09 PM

Last updated: Fri 22 Aug 2025, 1:11 PM

Local duo Aoibheann Reilly and Béibhinn Parsons have been selected to start for the Ireland women's rugby team in their World Cup opener against Japan in Northampton on Sunday.

Reilly from Creagh will play at scrum-half while Ballinasloe's Parsons has been chosen on the right wing. Athlone's Anna McGann is also in the match-day squad, the Moydrum native one of the eight players on the replacements.

Another local link is Clara native and former Moate Community School student Aoife Dalton, who has been selected in the centre alongside Eve Higgins.

Ivana Kiripati from Athlone and Ballinasloe's Méabh Deely are also part of Ireland's 32-player overall squad.

Reilly, Parsons and Deely all began their rugby carers with Ballinasloe RFC, while McGann and Kiripati started with Buccaneers RFC in Athlone, so both clubs are naturally proud of such strong representation in the Ireland squad for the World Cup.

Sunday's match at Franklin’s Gardens (kick-off 12pm) will be shown live on RTÉ2 and BBC Two.

Ireland will have co-captain Edel McMahon back in the side for the clash with Japan. McMahon, 31, missed the last two warm-up matches with a knee problem, but returns in one of four changes to the side which started the 47-26 defeat to Canada in Belfast.

The replacements bench includes hooker Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald, who is at her second World Cup, and former England prop Ellena Perry.

Ireland are without Aoife Wafer as she continues to work on rehabilitation from knee surgery, but is expected to be involved at some stage.

After taking on Japan, who are ranked 11th in the world, in their opening Pool C fixture, Ireland will then play Spain in Northampton on Sunday, August 31, before tackling defending champions New Zealand in Brighton on September 7 (Brighton & Hove Albion FC will host this fixture).

Ireland team (vs Japan): Stacey Flood; Béibhinn Parsons, Aoife Dalton, Eve Higgins, Amee-Leigh Costigan; Dannah O’Brien, Aoibheann Reilly; Niamh O’Dowd, Neve Jones, Linda Djougang; Ruth Campbell, Sam Monaghan (co-captain); Fiona Tuite, Edel McMahon (co-captain), Brittany Hogan.

Replacements: Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald, Ellena Perry, Sadhbh McGrath, Eimear Corri-Fallon, Grace Moore, Emily Lane, Enya Breen, Anna McGann.