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Ireland finished third in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations after they twice came from behind to narrowly beat Scotland 15-12 and secure their qualification for the 2025 World Cup.
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Scotland hit the front with the only try of the first half when Elis Martin crossed the whitewash to give them a 5-0 lead at the interval.
It took Ireland just one minute of the second half to draw level when Katie Corrigan dotted down in the corner, but Scotland restored their advantage in the 50th minute as Lisa Thomson broke the line and Helen Nelson added the extras to give them a seven-point lead.
With 20 minutes to go, Ireland were on level terms once again following a rolling maul, Cliodhna Moloney barged over the line and Dannah O’Brien successfully kicked the conversion to make it 12-12.
Both teams went in search of a winning score and Ireland got the opportunity when Aoife Wafer helped earn a penalty, with O’Brien making no mistake in slotting over the three points to put her side in front for the first time.
Scotland had a chance to nick it at the end after a scrum penalty then gave Scotland territory with less than five minutes to go, but Ireland stood firm despite Beibhinn Parsons being sent to the sin bin late on.
After failing to qualify for the last Rugby World Cup and finishing sixth in last year’s Women’s Six Nations, the result is hugely significant for Irish women’s rugby.
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They will play in WXV 1 for the first time, joining England, France, and three teams from the upcoming Pacific Four Series in Canada this September. In 2023 they won WXV 3 in Dubai with victories over Kazakhstan, Colombia, and Spain.
Last year’s WXV 2 winners Scotland will return to the second level in South Africa this autumn alongside Italy, the winner of the playoff between Wales (Women’s Six Nations sixth place) and Spain (Rugby Europe Championship winners), the fourth-placed team at the Pacific Four Series, winner of the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup, and Asia Women’s Championship winner.
For Scotland, there is still a chance to qualify for RWC2025 as the highest-finishing six teams from WXV who are yet to secure a RWC place will qualify.
Italy, who lost to Wales earlier in the, finish the 2024 Women’s Six Nations in fifth place while Scotland finish their campaign in fourth.
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