Monaghan times return to perfection

It has been a long road of recovery for Sam Monaghan, but her North Star was always Ireland’s World Cup opener against Japan.

The Gloucester Hartpury lock missed an entire year of action after suffering an ACL injury in June 2024, but has got back to fitness in time for her country’s own memorable return.

Ireland’s first World Cup match in eight years was always going to be special and Monaghan put in the hard yards away from the spotlight to ensure she would wear the number five in Northampton.

The 32-year-old was immediately back to her all-action self in the second row as Ireland ran out 42-14 winners to start their campaign in style in front of a strong Irish crowd.

She said: “It is an amazing moment. I am very grateful that the timing aligned with the World Cup.

“I am grateful to the people around me and the support staff to get me this far.

“It has been a massive driver for me. I remember doing these awful hill sessions up in the High Performance Centre and in my head, I was just thinking about being on the pitch and what I can do. I am lucky it has paid off.

“It was great to see the support in the crowd. That roar, it brings along game-changing moments.

“The amount of money spent on flights, taxis and trains. We are so grateful to have that support here and hopefully the same again next week.”

A hunger for #RWC2025 🔥

Ireland are ready to raise hell ☘️#IREvJPN | @IrishRugby pic.twitter.com/RFEMMrmKnr

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) August 24, 2025

Ireland were forced to work hard for their victory against an inventive Japanese side, who almost came within seven points of their opponents only for Eve Higgins to intercept a pass on her own try line and race clear to flip the contest on its head.

Scott Bemand’s side ultimately scored two more tries from that point to emerge as comfortable winners and seal a vital first win as they eye a potential knockout-stage berth.

“There’s never a perfect game. It just shows where this team are at, there were a few of us who were a bit frustrated at points with momentum swings in the game,” added Monaghan.

“We felt like maybe we should have turned the tide a bit quicker but there are so many positives to take out of that. I am so proud of the group, the fight.

“No one can underestimate the Japanese, they are very clinical and very strong side. Some of the defensive pressure we were under was tough.

“I am proud of the resilience of the girls today and I am really looking forward to next week.”

Monaghan is one of a number of Irish players operating in the PWR, with fellow co-captain Edel McMahon at Exeter Chiefs alongside Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald, while Neve Jones is a teammate at Gloucester Hartpury and Grace Moore plays for Trailfinders Women.

With the Ireland contingent set to swell next season with the arrival of Aoife Wafer at Harlequins, Monaghan is looking forward to donning the red and white hoops again when the league starts again in October.

“I started playing in England so I have always played in the Premiership, I have never played at home,” she said.

“I felt because I was older, I didn’t started playing until I was 24, I learned quick.

“I had great people around me at Wasps, the likes of Tricky [Edel McMahon] and Cliodhna, Ciara Cooney, Claire Molloy to really fast track my rugby learning and push me on to be a better player.

“I am really excited to get back playing for Gloucester, it has been a long time since I played. I am looking forward to playing in the Premiership this year.

“It is such a competitive league and it is only getting better. There’s massive competition in the league this year. It is great to have lots of different nations, you get exposed to different styles of play, different players. It’s really good.”