Clara's Aoife Dalton, who is set to make her Women's Rugby World Cup debut on Sunday. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Dalton to start for Ireland as World Cup kicks off

Kieran Galvin

Published: Fri 22 Aug 2025, 1:42 PM

Aoife Dalton from Clara has been chosen to start for the Ireland women's rugby team in their World Cup opener against Japan in Northampton on Sunday.

Dalton, who already has has 24 caps to her name, has been selected in the centre alongside Eve Higgins.

A former Tullamore RFC player, Dalton now plays with Old Belvedere and Leinster.

Since breaking into the Leinster team, Dalton has made a major impact for both her province and country. As she prepares to make her World Cup debut, it's another proud moment for the Dalton family and the town of Clara.

There are a number of players from the wider midlands region in the overall Ireland squad, including Athlone duo Anna McGann Ivana Kiripati, while Aoibheann Reilly, Béibhinn Parsons and Méabh Deely all hail from the Ballinasloe area.

Reilly and Parsons have been named to start against Japan, while McGann is among the replacements.

The Ireland women’s coaching team is led by head coach Scott Bemand.

Sunday's match at Franklin’s Gardens (kick-off 12pm) will be shown live on RTÉ2 and BBC Two.

Ireland will have co-captain Edel McMahon back in the side for the clash with Japan. The flanker, 31, missed the last two warm-up matches with a knee problem, but returns in one of four changes to the side which started the 47-26 defeat to Canada in Belfast.

The replacements bench includes hooker Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald, who is at her second World Cup, and former England prop Ellena Perry.

Ireland are without Aoife Wafer as she continues to work on rehabilitation from knee surgery, but is expected to be involved at some stage.

After taking on Japan, who are ranked 11th in the world, in their opening Pool C fixture, Ireland will then play Spain in Northampton on Sunday, August 31, before tackling defending champions New Zealand in Brighton on September 7 (Brighton & Hove Albion FC will host this fixture).

Ireland team (vs Japan): Stacey Flood; Béibhinn Parsons, Aoife Dalton, Eve Higgins, Amee-Leigh Costigan; Dannah O’Brien, Aoibheann Reilly; Niamh O’Dowd, Neve Jones, Linda Djougang; Ruth Campbell, Sam Monaghan (co-captain); Fiona Tuite, Edel McMahon (co-captain), Brittany Hogan.

Replacements: Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald, Ellena Perry, Sadhbh McGrath, Eimear Corri-Fallon, Grace Moore, Emily Lane, Enya Breen, Anna McGann.