Aoife Wafer has drawn a line in the sand for Ireland Rugby, declaring a mandatory five-win sweep in their upcoming WXV campaign as the baseline for international success.
The Irish side are entering a crucial year as Wafer, along with many of her teammates will be looking to earn a spot on the Lions tour of New Zealand next year.
Ireland Rugby Chases Elite Status
Following consecutive third-place finishes in the Six Nations, Scott Bemand’s squad is preparing for a demanding schedule against the United States, Japan, and South Africa. Translating their undefeated home momentum from the 2026 championship into an away fortress is now the ultimate goal. The presence of core talent testing themselves in Premiership Women’s Rugby is noticeably raising the bar across the national setup.
Speaking to BBC Sport, the two-time Six Nations Player of the Championship outlined a bold vision for the future of Women’s Rugby in her country.
“We’re chasing those five wins [in WXV], which is the bare minimum for us. We speak about bringing Ireland back to being one of the best in the world, being a successful Ireland, everyone is hungry to do that.”
The number of players getting to test themselves at the top level in the PWR will be a factor in any upcoming improvement.
Historic Tour Tests Breakdown Adaptability
The autumn fixture list features a debut appearance in Tallaght against a physical American side, followed by a double-header with a rapid Japanese outfit. The campaign culminates with a pioneering tour against the Springboks. Unlike the recent autumn fly-half reshuffle affecting the men’s squad, Bemand’s travelling group looks settled and ready for the impending physical assault.
Wafer knows the away leg will demand peak tactical execution and relentless intensity from the forwards. Acknowledging the threat awaiting them, the Harlequins star told BBC Sport: “The South Africans are renowned for their physicality. They have a pack that will happily beat you up and backs that can also beat you up.” This will be a great test for the Ireland sides who have been struggling to get past England and France in the Six Nations in recent years.
