Women’s Rugby World Cup: Ireland’s Aoife Wafer is fit to face France in Sunday’s quarter-final but Edel McMahon misses out through injury

Ireland back row Aoife Wafer will make her first appearance of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in Sunday’s quarter-final against France in Exeter.

Co-captain Edel McMahon, however, misses out through injury.

Wafer, 22, who will join English side Harlequins after the tournament, missed the pool stages as she recovered from knee surgery in July.

The 2025 Six Nations player of the tournament initially remained at home to continue her rehab when Ireland departed for England, joining up with the squad only after their opening win over Japan.

“She’s a class player. We’ve all wanted to see her back on pitch. She’s been desperate to get back out there and give some of herself to the cause that we’re undertaking,” said Ireland head coach Scott Bemand.

“She’s worked incredibly hard behind the scenes and there’s been an incredible amount of support for her in getting her back to this point.

“We’re fully confident she’s fit and ready. She’s desperate to get on the pitch, now it’s just time to let her go.”

Wafer’s return to the side for the first time since April is one of two changes to Bemand’s starting XV from last week’s loss to New Zealand.

She takes the place of McMahon, who plays her club rugby for Exeter, after the flanker left last week’s defeat early in the second half with a knee injury.

“Edel misses out through injury is the long and short of it,” added Bemand.

“We’ll miss her leadership. We’ll miss her ability to go and bank people in defence.”

In the other change from the 40-0 reverse against the Black Ferns, Fiona Tuite comes in for Grace Moore in the back row.

Moore is named among the replacements, with Claire Boles not in the 23, and in a final change on the bench Enya Breen is named in place of Nancy McGillvray.

Stacey Flood and Eve Higgins, who also sustained injuries against New Zealand, are fit to start at full-back and inside centre respectively.

Loose head prop Niamh O’Dowd retains her place in the starting side with Ellena Perry named on the bench after being ruled out on the morning of last week’s concluding pool fixture.

Ireland qualified for the quarter-finals as runners-up in Pool C, while France topped Pool D thanks to wins over South Africa, Italy and Brazil.