Will Ireland’s Women’s Rugby team make history at the 2025 World Cup? Former star Claire Small believes they have something truly special in store. From past disappointments to becoming a major threat, their journey has been incredible. Discover how crucial grassroots investment is fueling their rise and what lies ahead for this powerhouse team!
Former Ireland international Claire Small holds an unwavering conviction that the Ireland Women’s Rugby team is on the cusp of delivering an extraordinary performance at the highly anticipated 2025 Rugby World Cup. Her profound optimism stems from the team’s remarkable journey and significant improvements, signaling their readiness to challenge the world’s best on the sport’s grandest stage.
The path to becoming a formidable force has been anything but straightforward for the Irish squad. After the bitter disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2021 World Cup, the team has undergone a profound transformation, evolving into one of the tournament’s most significant threats. This incredible resurgence includes a notable second-place finish in the WXV competition and a historic victory against New Zealand just over a year ago, underscoring their dramatic ascent in the global rugby hierarchy.
Speaking from Enniskillen Rugby Club, a testament to the transformative power of grassroots funding, Small articulated her belief in the team’s immense potential. “This Ireland team has shown that they have the potential to go far,” she stated, emphasizing their recent achievements. Small firmly believes that if the squad performs at its peak, unlocking their collective abilities, they are more than capable of achieving something truly special and leaving an indelible mark on the World Cup.
Integral to this resurgence and the broader development of women and girls’ sport across Ireland has been the game-changing investment from The National Lottery. Over the past three decades, more than £6 billion has been channelled into grassroots clubs and organisations, fundamentally altering the landscape for aspiring female athletes and playing a pivotal role in Ireland’s improved fortunes on the rugby field.
Claire Small herself is a direct product of this crucial grassroots infrastructure, having honed her skills at County Fermanagh’s Enniskillen Rugby Club. This club, which has benefited from over £100,000 in National Lottery funding, stands as a shining example of how vital local teams are to nurturing talent and fostering the growth of women’s rugby. Her journey from the local pitch to the international stage vividly illustrates the impact of sustained investment.
As Ireland prepares for its upcoming clash with Spain, a fixture that offers a chance to atone for past disappointments that denied them a spot in the 2021 World Cup, Small urged the team to maintain their positive momentum. She cautioned against underestimating their opponents, emphasizing the importance of carrying forward the strengths and lessons learned from their recent successes into this critical encounter at Franklins’ Gardens.
The Enniskillen Rugby Club, where Small participated in a training session to highlight the over £170 million in National Lottery funding that has transformed grassroots rugby across the UK, continues to serve as a beacon of talent development. The club proudly boasts six players in the Ulster Squad, with promising individuals like Sophie Barrett and India Daley progressing through a robust pathway, showcasing the strength of the system in place.
Small expressed immense satisfaction witnessing the thriving talent pipeline at Enniskillen firsthand, aiming to inspire a new generation of players. Her enthusiasm underscores the profound effect of comprehensive National Lottery funding, which has not only facilitated significant growth within the women’s and girls’ game across Northern Ireland but has also created the essential infrastructure now producing world-class female rugby players for Ireland.
