Women’s Rugby World Cup: Captain Sam Monaghan says Ireland are braced for ‘surreal’ tournament bow

Ireland trained in the quiet surroundings of Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday morning, quite the contrast from the incredible engine noise that could be heard on Friday at their team hotel, which is only a couple of miles from Formula 1 track Silverstone.

Intent on not being one of the backmarkers at World Cup, Ireland aim to lay down a marker and get off to a flying first lap at this tournament.

“We have tried out loads of combinations in the pre-season, and we are quite confident going into this game,” Monaghan said.

“Japan are a well-organised team, but we will definitely get after them and try to get a fast start and hope we can bring a physical edge from minute one.”

Monaghan was absent for over a year with an ACL injury sustained playing for English club champions Gloucester-Hartpury in June 2024.

She was back just in time for the World Cup warm-up games against Scotland and Canada this month, both of which were missed by her co-captain Edel McMahon through injury.

Sunday’s game will be the pair’s first time playing together since the 2024 Six Nations.

Monaghan has timed her run well to get back in time for the World Cup but is mindful that others, such as Dorothy Wall, Erin King and Christy Haney, were not so lucky.

“It was a tough road and there were dark days in the gym and times when you felt close to feeling like an athlete again and you’d have another setback.

“But brilliant leaders have emerged in this group who put their arms around me and pushed me on. It is sixteen months since myself and Tricky [McMahon] last played together and she is a great force to have on the pitch so it’s exciting to get out there again.”