Lorraine Kelly
The wait is over, and the stitching’s tight. The official Ireland Women’s Rugby World Cup Jersey has been unveiled by Canterbury of New Zealand, and it’s every bit as proud, punchy, and traditional as the team who’ll wear it.
Set to hit shelves — and pitch — this Friday, July 25, the jersey will make its first official appearance during Ireland’s opening clash against Japan on Sunday, August 24.
Unveiled under the campaign ‘Ireland’s Calling’, the new kit will take centre stage at Lansdowne FC on Wednesday, July 23. Among those unbuttoning history will be Irish internationals Edel McMahon, Fiona Tuite and Enya Breen — three women who’ve likely spilt more blood in green than most people have in a full season of watching from the couch.
And the timing? Impeccable. Irish women’s rugby is surging forward with the kind of momentum that’d make a freight train sweat.
After last year’s WXV heroics — including a scalp-tingling win over the world champion Black Ferns — and continued progression in the Guinness Six Nations, this is no mere jersey launch. It’s a statement. And it comes with backup.
Canterbury isn’t just sending out a press release and calling it a day. No, they’re erecting a 12-metre-tall version of the Ireland Women’s Rugby World Cup Jersey — because apparently subtlety isn’t in the playbook anymore, and good thing too. This supersized shirt will tour Ireland from July 24 to August 10, stopping off at rugby clubs and Intersport Elverys stores like a touring rock band, except with better breath control and actual physical contact.
Fans will be invited to scrawl their best wishes on the giant jersey — messages of support that’ll accompany the squad across the water to England. And for those unable to high-five the fabric in person, Intersport Elverys is launching an online portal (elverys.ie/pages/irish-rugby-womens-rwc-roadshow), where digital cheers, virtual pom-poms, and prize giveaways await.
As for the jersey itself? The home strip stays gloriously old-school with a cadmium green colourway and a throwback grandad collar — the kind of collar that says, “We’ll play rugby, and then we’ll attend Mass.” It’s Irish rugby nostalgia served with a modern twist, thanks to Canterbury’s VapoDri tech that keeps players dry even when the heavens inevitably open.
For away days, the alternate kit swaps tradition for grace, with a white base and soft rose-toned accents. It’s the sort of shirt that says, “We’ll beat you by 20 and still shake your hand afterwards.”
Simon Rowe, SVP at Canterbury, called it: “At Canterbury, we are incredibly proud to launch the official kit for the Irish Women’s Team. This summer feels like a very important time for Irish women’s rugby, with the team looking to build upon a set of fantastic results last year.
Under the banner of ‘Ireland’s Calling,’ we are inviting fans everywhere to rally behind these exceptional players as they take to the world’s stage.”
Jessica Long, Head of Commercial at the IRFU, added: “This Rugby World Cup campaign represents a defining moment for women’s rugby in Ireland, and we’re proud to mark it with the launch of such a meaningful jersey and campaign.
‘Ireland’s Calling’ is more than a campaign line—it’s a rallying cry to fans across the country to get behind this team as they inspire a new generation on and off the pitch.”
And if you’re looking to kit yourself out before kickoff, both jerseys will be available exclusively from Intersport Elverys and Canterbury.com, with prices starting at £66/€80.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan or simply appreciate a proper collar and a purpose, now’s the time to wear your colours — loudly, proudly, and preferably before someone else does.
Because this isn’t just about a jersey. It’s about a team writing a new chapter in Irish rugby. And they’ve got the shirts — and a bloody massive one — to prove it.
