Ireland's Sam Monaghan Ruled Out of Australia Test and WXV1 Campaign

Ireland co-captain Sam Monaghan has been sidelined for the upcoming Test against Australia and October's WXV1 tournament due to a significant knee injury. Monaghan, who plays for Gloucester-Hartpury, suffered the injury during the Premiership Women's Rugby final on June 22, casting a shadow over her participation in the crucial fixtures.

Monaghan's absence adds to a growing list of injury concerns for Ireland head coach Scott Bemand. The team will also be without Beibhinn Parsons, Aoibheann Reilly, Natasja Behan, Katie Corrigan, and Sadhbh McGrath, further straining Bemand's options ahead of key matches.

Despite these setbacks, Bemand's squad receives a boost with the return of several Olympians, including Stacey Flood, Eve Higgins, Emily Lane, and Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe. These players, who competed in Ireland's sevens campaign at the Paris Games, bring valuable experience to the squad.

In addition, forward Erin King, a Sevens international, is one of 10 uncapped players named in Bemand's 35-strong panel. Ulster prop Sophie Barrett earns her first senior call-up after impressing at the Under-20s level, joined by Ruth Campbell, Siobhan McCarthy, and Andrea Stock among the uncapped forwards.

The backline sees Robyn O'Connor and Chisom Ugwueru stepping up from the Under-20s, with Katie Heffernan, Katie Whelan, and Alana McInerney also vying for their first senior caps. McInerney has been particularly noted for her performances with Munster in the Women's Interpros this summer.

Ireland's squad will face Australia at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast on September 14. Following this fixture, Bemand will narrow down his squad to 30 players for the WXV1 campaign in Vancouver. In this tournament, Ireland will face formidable opponents: New Zealand on September 30, Canada on October 5, and the USA on October 11.

The team’s preparation and selection will be crucial as they navigate these challenges and aim for a successful performance in the upcoming international competitions.