Ireland suffer major Aoife Wafer blow ahead of South Africa Tests

Ireland have been dealt a huge blow ahead of their South Africa tour, with Six Nations Player of the Championship Aoife Wafer ruled out of the two-game series.

Wafer played in her team’s WXV Global Series opener against the USA Women’s Eagles in Dublin but missed back-to-back games against Japan over the past fortnight.

Irish Rugby did not confirm the nature of Wafer’s injury. Her club side, Harlequins, confirmed that the 23-year-old had undergone successful surgery and would miss the start of the JAECOO Premiership Women’s Rugby season.

The 30-player squad selected by Bemand is also without Sam Monaghan, who sustained a campaign-ending Achilles injury in September. Ruth Campbell has recovered from an ankle injury and will tour South Africa.

Erin King continues to captain the side, who travel to South Africa next Thursday ahead of consecutive fixtures against the Springbok Women in Cape Town on Saturday 24 and Saturday 31 October.

The squad also includes the recently capped Beth Buttimer, Jemima Adams Verling, Kate Jordan, Sophie Barrett and Alana McInerney.

Ireland head to South Africa following a remote training week and back-to-back wins against Japan. However, their WXV Global Series campaign has been mixed, with a 40-36 defeat to the USA followed by a 31-24 victory over Japan. They also beat the Sakura Fifteen 43-19 in an out-of-window fixture in Cork.

They will face a South Africa team that lost 50-19 to Wales in their opening WXV Global Series fixture but ended their time in Europe with wins against Italy and Spain.

Ireland touring squad | WXV Global Series 2026

Forwards
Beth Buttimer (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)(2)
Brittany Hogan (Sale Sharks)(46)
Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs)(55)
Dorothy Wall (Exeter Chiefs)(44)
Eilís Cahill (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)(7)
Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(15)(captain)
Fiona Tuite-O’Sullivan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)(28)
Grace Moore (Munster)(30)
Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)(3)
Jemima Adams Verling (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)(3)
Kate Jordan (Blackrock College/Leinster)(1)
Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(60)
Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury)(49)
Niamh O’Dowd (Gloucester-Hartpury)(25)
Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(17)
Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster)(24)
Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen RFC/Cooke RFC/Ulster)(1)

Backs
Alana McInerney (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)(1)
Anna McGann (Railway Union RFC/Connacht)(20)
Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)(22)
Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(36)
Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College/Connacht)(38)
Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(38)
Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)(28)
Enya Breen (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)(34)
Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)(39)
Niamh Gallagher (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby)(4)
Robyn O’Connor (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(6)
Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)(31)
Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC/Leinster)(8)