Wexford’s Aoife Wafer is set to make her first appearance at the Women’s Rugby World Cup this Sunday, starting for Ireland in their quarter-final clash with France at Sandy Park in Exeter.
The 22-year-old flanker has completed her recovery from knee surgery, which she underwent in July, and has been named in the starting XV by head coach Scott Bemand. Wafer will wear the number 7 jersey, although she typically plays at number 8 during Ireland’s own scrum put-ins. Wafer was one of Ireland’s standout performers earlier this year, earning the Six Nations Player of the Tournament award for her relentless work rate and physicality. Her return is seen as a major boost for the squad, following a tough 40-0 defeat to defending champions New Zealand in their final Pool C match last weekend. Ireland: Stacey Flood; Béibhinn Parsons, Aoife Dalton, Eve Higgins, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe; Dannah O'Brien, Aoibheann Reilly; Niamh O'Dowd, Neve Jones, Linda Djougang; Ruth Campbell, Sam Monaghan (capt); Fiona Tuite, Aoife Wafer, Brittany Hogan. Replacements: Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald, Ellena Perry, Sadhbh McGrath, Eimear Corr-Fallon, Grace Moore, Emily Lane, Enya Breen, Anna McGann.
