Ireland rugby star Aoife Wafer: ‘It’s a game I don’t think I’ll ever be over. Maybe if you ask me in 10 years. But, right now, it still hurts’

Growing up, Aoife Wafer excelled in GAA, school and music, but ever since watching her rugby heroes from the sidelines aged six, the seed was planted. Now 22, the pro flanker talks about joining Harlequins, the Six Nations in April and where she gets her drive

Ireland’s Aoife Wafer on her move to Harlequins and the women’s Lions tour

How close to 100pc were you at the World Cup? Aoife Wafer mulls the question, then replies, “Physically or mentally 100pc?”

Let us start with physically. In early July of last year, the Ireland rugby flanker underwent surgery to repair cruciate ligament tears in her knee. Ireland would play their first match of the tournament on August 2. Wafer, their star player, would miss that and the entire pool stages. She fought, rehabbed and trained through the pain barrier to make it back on September 14 for Ireland’s quarter-final against France.