Roscommon women named in Irish World Cup squad
Ivana Kiripati with her parents Mele and Kolo Kiripati after being selected to represent Ireland at the World Cup. Picture: INPHO/Ben Brady
Two Roscommon women have been named in the Irish women’s Rugby World Cup squad.
Creggs’ Ivana Kiripati and Aoibheann Reilly from Creagh have both been included in the 32 player squad for this month’s tournament in England.
Kiripati received her first cap earlier this month in a World Cup warm up game against Scotland while she also started against Canada the following weekend.
The Creggs woman is the daughter of Kolo Kiripati, who was Head Coach as Creggs’ senior men’s team secured the Junior Cup, J1A League title and Cawley Cup last season.
Meanwhile, Reilly has shown admirable resolve to book her spot in the squad.
The Creagh native was set to represent Ireland at the Olympic Games last year but suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury a month before the Sevens team lined out in France.
This was her second cruciate injury, but Reilly battled back to feature in this year’s Six Nations.
Daughter of Stephen and Fionnuala Reilly, Aoibheann is a former Pádraig Pearses and Roscommon U-16 ladies’ footballer.
Overall, seven Connacht players have made the squad with Connacht's Edel McMahon named as joint captain. Ballinasloe’s Beibhinn Parsons and Méabh Deely are also included.
Parsons suffered two leg breaks in 2024 but started against Canada in Ireland’s last World Cup warm up game as she crossed for two tries.
Co-Captain Edel McMahon stated “Missing out on the last World Cup lit a fire in all of us. Getting Ireland back on the world stage means absolutely everything, it’s something we have dreamed of and fought for ever since. We’re ready, and we are going to give it everything for our country.”
Joint captain Monaghan added: “The ‘Green Wave’ is more than just a slogan for us—it’s the spirit we carry onto the field. Over the coming weeks, we want to make our families proud and inspire the nation. This is a moment we’ve worked tirelessly for, and we’ll leave nothing behind.”
Ireland commence their World Cup campaign against Japan on Sunday, August 24th before they face Spain and New Zealand in their other pool games.
