'Unlucky' Ireland second row to miss entirety of WXV Global Series

Former Ireland co-captain Sam Monaghan has been ruled out of the team’s entire WXV Global Series campaign with an Achilles injury.

It means that the 33-year-old will miss home Test matches against the USA Women’s Eagles, Japan and tour fixtures against the Springbok Women in Cape Town.

Last year the second row returned from an ACL injury to feature at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025. She will remain in camp to lend her experience to the group.

“Sam has been really unlucky,” Scott Bemand, Ireland head coach, said. “She picked up an Achilles injury, so that will be this competition out for her.

“She is still in and around [the squad], which is brilliant. She’s still goading the girls on and still in meetings, so she’s still getting a rugby fix.

“But yeah, rugby being rugby, sometimes it throws you one of these. But in terms of how it leaves the squad, there’s opportunities.”

Ruth Campbell, who sustained an ankle injury in Leinster’s Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship final loss to Munster, could potentially feature for Ireland in September or October.

Bemand said: “The facilities we’ve got here [at Ireland’s high performance centre], the people we’ve got looking after her, we’re really hopeful we can get Ruth back in this series. So that’ll be a nice turnaround, she’s got something to go for.”

Uncapped pair Alma Atagamen and Olivia McKinley were called into Ireland camp last week to help with preparations for the USA Women’s Eagles fixture that takes place at Tallaght Stadium on Sunday.

As a result of Monaghan and Campbell’s absences, Ireland could see Dorothy Wall and Fiona Tuite-O’Sullivan combine in the second row. Injuries also mean that Jane Clohessy and Kate Jordan could win places in the match day 23.

This weekend, Ireland cannot improve their position in the World Rugby rankings, but the USA can leap two places up the standings with a shock win.