Galway to Host Historic Women’s Six Nations Rugby Debut

Dexcom Stadium in Galway will host a historic Women’s Six Nations double-header on April 18, 2026, featuring both the senior and U21 Ireland teams. The event marks the first time the stadium has hosted a senior international match and the first time Galway has hosted Women’s Six Nations rugby.

The day’s schedule begins at 2:20pm with the Ireland U21s facing Italy in the opening game of their Women’s Six Nations Series. This match will be broadcast live on the Six Nations U20s YouTube channel and IrishRugby+.

The senior Ireland team, coached by Scott Bemand, will follow at 5:40pm to face Italy in their Round 2 match of the 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations. This fixture will be broadcast live on Virgin Media One and BBC iPlayer.

Senior Team Context and Form

The senior women’s squad, captained by Erin King, enters the Round 2 match looking to recover from a loss to England during the tournament’s opening round on April 11, 2026.

The return to Galway is a significant milestone for the team. Ireland Women last played in the city in 2006, when they secured a 15-8 victory over Canada.

Public interest in the fixture is high, with ticket sales for the double-header already surpassing 7,000. All tickets provide entry to both the U21 and senior matches.

U21 Squad and Development

The Ireland U21s are led by head coach Niamh Briggs. The squad features captain Lucia Linn, as well as Chisom Ugwueru and Ailish Quinn.

The development of the women’s game in the region has been supported by former Irish international and Grand Slam winner Larissa Muldoon, who has served as a driving force for the women’s game and the structures within Connacht.

Upcoming Team Announcements

Official squad selections for both teams will be released in the coming days:

• The Ireland U21s Match Day Squad will be unveiled by head coach Niamh Briggs on April 15, 2026, at 3pm.
• The senior Ireland team to face Italy will be named by Scott Bemand on April 16, 2026, at 12pm.