Ireland women's rugby team's World Cup journey: heartbreak, hope, and record support
Michael Bolton
Ireland's women's rugby team suffered further World Cup quarter-final heartache after being narrowly beaten by France. Yet, on reflection, there were positives to be taken from the campaign.
Having missed out in 2021, Ireland and women's rugby in general saw record support across the tournament.
A key part of the Ireland side is Linda Djougang, who won her 50th cap during the competition.
The Leinster prop has been part of Ireland's turn in fortunes since Scott Bemand took over as head coach.
"We didn't finish the way we wanted to finish, but after you reflect, we definitely gave everything. We made the country proud.
"There is room for improvement, and that is why we play those pressuring games; there is so much we can take from this.
"The majority of us hadn't been put in that environment before. Having that experience now, we can only get better from it. It is how we use that to our advantage now.
"After eight years, this is what we fought for, this is eight years of blood and tears. There are so many girls of the girls that started the journey that couldn't get to the World Cup."
A tournament where members of the squad were regulars on TikTok, the sport reached out to new people during the World Cup.
From dances to the famous fleece, it was one of many ways support was shown to the team.
"That fleece, everyone’s trying to get their hands on it still.
"‘It’s funny because we didn’t get the fleece until we were in England, and initially we were like “no, I’m not sure about that” but then when we got there [to the World Cup] and put it on, and it was so cosy."
Following the World Cup, Djougang is back at her job as a nurse, stepping away from a full-time contract with the IRFU.
While it will not be Djougang's immediate priority, there are some huge days ahead for the team in 2026.
The defeat in France left some unfinished business, where a rivalry has brewed between the sides as Ireland will be out to make a statement in April.
"France is a good team, they always bring the best out of us. It started really in Vancouver, we had a training session with them in similar conditions to us playing.
"It gave us that sense of belief. We carried that; we knew what we were capable of against France. We did the same in the Six Nations; we knew how much closer we were getting.
"Coming into the World Cup, we knew if everything went well, we were going to play France. We look forward to the Six Nations; it will be a good game.
In a first for the national women's side, Ireland will end the Six Nations against Scotland, an occasion Djougang is looking forward to.
"I think that now, just to really like the fact that we’re having our last game in the Aviva for the first time, May 17th. That’s really come from the impact of the World Cup, how much our supporters want to have home games, like, how much the crowds want to support.
"But also it’s that atmosphere, how our performance, that whole crowd from the World Cup and it’s really what we showcase that people just wanted more, and in fairness, like we heard that the tickets are being sold out, and so it’s actually amazing."
