Captain Monaghan ’emotional’ over Ireland return

Location: Musgrave Park, Cork Date: Saturday, August 2 Kick-off: 2:00 BST

Sam Monaghan, Ireland’s skipper, declares that after 13 months out with injuries, she will “savour every moment.”

In June of this year, the lock’s ACL was damaged while playing for her club in Gloucester Hartpury, but she then experienced further delays from calf and hamstring issues.

The 32-year-old will start in the second row for Ireland’s warm-up match against Scotland in Cork on Saturday and will now see “light at the end of the tunnel.”

“Seeing my name again on the team sheet was really emotional for me, not just for myself but also for my family, team-mates, everyone who has traveled with me, physios, S&amp, Cs,” said Monaghan.

You engender hunger, . You’ve been starving for 13 months, sort of like when you finally get the chance.

Eimear Corri-Fallon, Monaghan’s second row partner on Saturday, has also experienced injuries in the past year.

Me and Eimear have previously played together in Dubai [at the WXV tournament in 2023] and at the Six Nations, according to Monaghan.

We’re on the same path right now, so sadly, we both had a rough year. It’s nice to get back together on the pitch.

For Ireland’s first of two warm-up games before the World Cup, which kicks off in England later this month, Monaghan and Corri-Fallon are not the only players to return to the panel.

As Scott Bemand’s side prepares for the tournament, where they will compete alongside Japan, Spain, and New Zealand, Wing Beibhinn Parsons, who broke her leg in December, will also start at Musgrave Park.

However, Ireland have already experienced a number of injury issues, with 2025 Six Nations Player of the Championship Aoife Wafer a doubt and Dorothy Wall and Erin King having been ruled out of the World Cup.

“Injuries are always very difficult.” Because of how close we are as a group, “we really feel” someone when they pass away, according to Monaghan.

They are such big characters, both on and off the pitch, and I am aware of how challenging it can be.