Ireland Women Fall to Canada in Belfast Warm-Up

Ireland made 10 changes to their starting lineup for the Women's Rugby World Cup warm-up against Canada in Belfast, retaining only five players from their previous win over Scotland. Despite a stronger second half, Ireland lost 47-26 after conceding five tries in the opening half. Co-captain Sam Monaghan praised the team's resilience, while Canada, ranked second in the world, remained unbeaten in 2024, with Florence Symonds scoring two tries and Fabiola Forteza earning player of the match honors. Both teams received yellow cards during the match, and prop Ellena Perry was poised to make her Ireland debut from the bench. Ireland's World Cup squad is set to be announced on Monday as they prepare for Pool C matches against New Zealand, Japan, and Spain. Head coach Scott Bemand highlighted the importance of these matches in shaping final squad selection and tournament readiness.