Ireland's Aoife Wafer set to make Harlequins debut

Ireland’s Aoife Wafer is set to play her first minutes of rugby this weekend since sustaining an injury in the Rugby World Cup in September.

The 22-year-old signed for PWR club Harlequins back in May before the World Cup began but has been sidelined with a collarbone and medial collateral ligament injury which she suffered in the quarter-final defeat by France.

The back row will likely make her Harlequins debut and first ever appearance in the PWR off the bench against Sale Sharks on Saturday, telling BBC Sport she is “buzzing for it” and that her body feels “strong, powerful, fast”.

The PWR has attracted more Irish players of late including Niamh O’Dowd and Brittany Hogan signing for Gloucester-Hartpury and Sale Sharks respectively in the last few weeks.

Quins have had a mixed season so far sitting in fifth place in the table after playing five and winning two games. Led by head coach and former men’s player Ross Chisholm, the club have been hampered by injuries to key players such as back row Alex Callender, lock forwards Sarah Bonar and Danelle Lochner, and Black Fern Layla Sae.

Round 8 sees Harlequins host Bristol bears at Allianz Stadium for their annual festive ‘Big Game’ fixture, something 2025 Six Nations Player of the Championship Wafer is looking forward to:

“You hear about the walk across to the stadium from The Stoop and how fans really get out and support us.

“It’s just a huge, huge occasion, and it’s definitely something that’s on everybody’s mind.”