World Cup Qualification (Women) 2026 Pacific Qualifying Tournament : European Qualifying Tournament

Sat 12th October 2024   - KO  19:00 - Gkorytsa Stadium, Aspropyrgos , Greece
Official: Tara Jones (England)

Greece

6

FT

42

Half Time
0 - 20

Ireland

Tries

Goals

'Most important match of our lives': Greece, Ireland set for RLWC2026 qualifier

Greece and Ireland have named their women squads for Saturday’s European 2026 World Cup qualifier, at the Gkorytsa Stadium in the Aspropygos district of Athens (kick off 3pm local time)

The nations finished second in their respective groups during the initial qualifying rounds and are battling to represent Europe in the inaugural World Series in 2025, which will determine the final spot in the main tournament to be held in Australia and Papua New Guinea the following year.

Greece have home advantage given their superior world ranking position and will potentially hand debuts to three players; Anais Dragoumis, Efstathia Skouroliakou and Triantafyllia Vasilogianni.

Greece women’s head coach, Jim Minadakis, said: "I'm looking forward to such a crucial match with so much at stake on home soil. 

“We are expecting a big crowd to help our girls deliver the goods even though we are underdogs. Preparation was tough during the summer season and we believe we are ready for the most important match of our lives.”

Ireland have two potential debutants in London Bronco Polly Roberts and Jade Walker.

“Preparations have been very positive,” noted Ireland women’s head coach Matt Kennerson. “After a big summer of domestic rugby, the girls seem refreshed and eager to put the green jersey back on. I truly believe this will be the strongest team we’ve put out so far. 

“We are in the midst of chasing our dream and it’s still very much alive in our minds, we’re confident we can get the job done. I have a fantastic team of coaches and managers supporting me and the players and it’s clearly having an impact.”

Tara Jones will referee the fixture who was unveiled this week as one of the Rugby Football League’s new fulltime match officials and the first woman to take up the role.

Jones played her final game for St Helens in last weekend’s Women’s Super League Grand Final. The match will be her first senior international fixture in the middle having earned 13 caps for England over the past decade.

GREECE SQUAD

Maria-Eleni Gkrilemi, Maria-Anna Lamprou, Georgia Kalomenopoulou, Sofia-Margarita Kitsaneli, Asimina Mastoraki, Myrsini Pappa, Efstathia Skoroliakou, Sotiria Skouroliakou,  Cleopatra Velmachou,   (Aris Eagles), Sofia Anagnostopoulou, Eleftheria Angeli, Chrysi Lymperidi, Magdilini Stavrianou (Athens City Raiders), Isaia Maragkou, Dimitra Papoutsi (Attica Rhinos),  Ourania Koutsikou (Cardiff Demons), Anais Dragoumis, Amalia Kozari, Triantafyllia Vasilogianni (unattached).

IRELAND SQUAD

Alex McGuinness (C), Alice Fitzgerald , Anna Potterton , Caoimhe Molloy , Cliodhna O'Sullivan , Clodagh Dunne , Grace Tutty , Lisa Callan , Martha Dwyer , Orlaith McAuliffe , Tricia Doyle (Dublin City Exiles), Holly O'Dwyer, Stacy Hanley (Galway Tribeswomen ), Mairead Quinn , Storm Cobain ( Leigh Leopards), Iona McCusker , Polly Roberts (London Broncos), Jade Walker (Wests Warriors), Bettie Lamber (York Valkyrie).

10 October 2024
'Super proud': Ireland down Greece to earn 2025 World Series berth

Ireland’s women will represent Europe at the inaugural 2025 World Series to decide the final qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup after a comprehensive, eight try 42-6 win over Greece at the Gkorytsa Stadium, Aspropygos, Athens.

Ireland women’s head coach, Matt Kennerson, said: “I’m super proud of the girls. It was warm and tough and Greece came out of the blocks firing and gave us a real game.

"We stuck to our process, didn’t panic, kicked well and put points on. I’m really excited for the World Series, we have to go back to work and prepare for that and see what happens next.”

In hot conditions, both teams started strongly, with Greece keeping Ireland under pressure and scoreless for most of the opening quarter of the game, spurred on by large local and vociferous crowd but two tries to York Valkyrie winger Betty Lambert either side of half time saw Ireland through. 

Despite the loss, Greece staff were delighted with the progress made having fielded an almost entirely domestic squad in their three tournament games who have shown tremendous improvement over the course of the year. 

Assistant coach, Rob Tuliatu, commented: “We’ve trained really well for the last five weeks and started impressively. We tried some new things today and some worked, some did not.

"The girls played with a lot of spirit and we are really proud of them. Ireland were difficult to handle and credit to them. Here in Greece we look forward to continuing this momentum.”

Ireland will join Nigeria, the winner of next month’s America’s Qualifying tournament and the runner up of this month’s Pacific Bowl in 2025 in the World Series.

GREECE 6
Cleopatra Velmachou, Magdelini Stavrianou, Dimitra Papoutsi, Chrysi Lymperidi, Sotiria Skouroliakou, Asimina Mastoraki, Sophia Margarita Kitsaneli, Ourania Koutsikou, Effie Skouroliakou, Maria-Eleni Gkirlemi, Isaia Maragkou, Anais Dragoumis, Myrsini Pappa.
Interchanges: Sophia Anagnostopoulou, Triantafyllia Vasilogianni, Maria-Anna Lamprou, Aimilia Kozari

Tries: Lamprou (62); Goals: Pappa 1/1

IRELAND 42
Cliodhna O'Sullivan, Alice Fitzegerald, Holly O'Dwyer, Grace Tutty, Betty Lambert, Jade Walker, Alex McGuinness, Clodagh Dunne, Polly Roberts, Stacy Hanley, Storm Cobain, Tricia Doyle, Iona McCusker. Interchages: Anna Potterton, Orlaith McAuliffe, Caoimhe Molloy, Mairead Quinn

Tries: Doyle (15), Fitzgerald (23), Molly (27), O’Dwyer (33), Lambert (41, 56), McGuinness (48), Tutty (70); Goals: Storm Cobain 5/8

Referee: Tara Jones (England)

Half Time: 0-20

12 October 2024