Aoife Wafer looks on course to play some part in Ireland’s Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against France on Sunday.
The 22-year-old forward hasn’t featured at the tournament yet as she recovers from knee surgery.
However, the signs were positive as the squad went through their warm-up at University Of Exeter Topsham Sports Ground on Wednesday afternoon.
The flanker, the Six Nations player of the tournament, looked fit and strong as she went through a specific warm-up routine with a coach.
Aoife Wafer trained with Ireland at University of Exeter ahead of Sunday’s #WRWC2025 quarter-final against France #RTERugby #RTESport https://t.co/GcpBuWxlXT pic.twitter.com/K6e7ij3jwC
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) September 10, 2025
Wafer said yesterday that her knee was feeling really strong.
“Aoife is back training with the squad, she’s looking really good at the minute,” kicking coach Gareth Steenson told RTÉ Sport.
“It’s been a long road for her. She’s got some good training sessions under her belt which has been really good.
“All being well she’s available for selection this week.
“We’re very pleased with where she’s at, how she’s trained, how she’s being working hard over the past few weeks to get into the position she’s in.”
Co-captain Edel McMahon, Stacey Flood and Fiona Tuite did not train with the squad.
McMahon (below) and Flood were both injured in Sunday’s 40-0 loss to New Zealand, while Tuite was ruled out of that game with what is believed to be a minor knock.
“[Edel is] just being managed from the weekend. It was a tough physical game against New Zealand and a bit of travel, coming down from Brighton,” added Steenson.
“The expectation is that she’ll be out on the field tomorrow.
“Again, bruising, just a bit of a bang. The position she plays is very combative.
“Same with Stacey, being managed in that vein, being carried off, she’s up and about, in good fettle as well, she’s in good form. She’ll be hopefully on the field tomorrow.
“That decision will be made over the next day or so, but the way it is at the minute, she’ll be looking to be training and will be available for selection this weekend.
“Fiona had a bit of a bang [on the leg], it’s a bit of game-management.
“It’s more about getting her back up to speed but again expecting her to be on the field tomorrow.”
Scott Bemand’s side finished second in Pool C and take on Les Bleues, who topped Pool D, at Sandy Park on Sunday afternoon (1pm, live on RTÉ).
Watch Ireland v France in the Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final on Sunday from 12.30pm on RTÉ1 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to live radio commentary on RTÉ Radio.