Canada Defeats Ireland 47-26 in Final Women’s Rugby World Cup Warm-Up

Ireland's women's rugby team suffered a 47-26 defeat against Canada in their final World Cup warm-up match at Belfast's Affidea Stadium, despite a spirited second-half comeback. Canada, ranked world number two, dominated with seven tries to Ireland's four, capitalizing on Ireland's poor discipline and tackling in the first half. Ireland made 10 changes to their lineup following a recent 27-21 win over Scotland but struggled to contain Canada's power and pace, falling behind early and trailing 40-7 with 25 minutes left before rallying. Key players for Canada included Sophie de Goede, Florence Symonds, and Justine Pelletier, who contributed significantly to the scoring, while Ireland's Béibhinn Parsons and Anna McGann led the late surge. Head coach Scott Bemand is set to announce the 32-player squad for the World Cup, where Ireland will face Japan, Spain, and New Zealand, with much to work on ahead of their opening game on August 24. The match highlighted Ireland's potential but underscored the need for improved discipline and defense to compete at the upcoming World Cup in England.