Ireland back row Aoife Wafer has stated her belief that it is "only a matter of time" before the national team breaks into the ranks of the world's elite. Wafer, who plays at number eight, made the comments as the Irish squad gears up for their WXV campaign.
The campaign will see Ireland play the United States in Dublin on 20 September, followed by two home Tests against Japan. Later in October, the team will travel to South Africa for two more Tests. Wafer, who scored five tries in five games and was named player of the championship for a second consecutive year in the 2026 Six Nations, highlighted the team's ambition to win all five WXV games.
Wafer, a Harlequins forward, has recovered from an injury-hit 2025, which included knee surgery, a broken collarbone, and a re-ruptured MCL. She also broke a knuckle in May 2026. The 23-year-old expressed her readiness for the upcoming matches, noting that the WXV format pits the top 10 teams against each other, offering diverse challenges from the USA, Japan, and South Africa.