Fit-again Delaney has sights set on World Cup

She may have endured her share of injury set-backs over the past 18 months, but a fit and ready Sarah Delaney now finds herself very much in the mix for the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England later this summer.

A native of Rathangan, Delaney picked up her third Ireland senior international cap as a late replacement in a Six Nations Championship clash with France in Le Mans on March 23, 2024. She was an unused member of the match day squad for a clash against Italy at the RDS in Dublin eight days later, before a shoulder injury ultimately ruled her out of action for an extended period.

She subsequently missed out on selection for a WXV 1 tournament in Canada last autumn and while the dynamic front-row did get some game time at club level with All-Ireland League outfit Blackrock College, an injury picked up in late November 2024 kept her sidelined until May of this year.

Yet despite her limited on-field involvement in recent times, Delaney is currently part of a 37-strong training squad that are being put through their paces by Scott Bemand and his fellow Irish coaches in preparation for the forthcoming World Cup.

“Delighted to be back involved. I suppose coming back from injury, you never really know what way selection is going to go. It’s definitely really exciting to be back in. I was back in club playing and I tore my syndesmosis and then I had a stress fracture along the way, which prolonged the injury a bit,” Delaney explained.

“That had me sidelined until May. I played about 30 minutes for the U20s warm-up against Canada [a training match on May 17]. That was my first intro back into rugby and then I was back in here the next week. It was not as much rugby definitely as I would have liked with the injury, but it has been great to be back in even training.” 

Although that brief outing against France in March of last year was her Six Nations bow, Delaney made her Ireland senior debut in a Round One victory over Kazakhstan in the inaugural WXV 3 tournament at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai on October 13, 2023. Replacing fellow hooker Neve Jones with just 12 minutes remaining in the action, Delaney crossed the whitewash moments later for a maiden international try as Ireland claimed a record-breaking 109-0 success.

“I don’t think many days will top that, to be honest. It was a dream come true. It was class. If you think of your first cap, you definitely don’t think it will be in Dubai against Kazakhstan in the blistering heat! It was unexpected timing wise, because I just came back from another long injury,” Delaney recalled of her debut.

“Then I played Leinster interpros and then I was straight in. It was unbelievable, a dream come true. The girls were so good to me when I first came in, brought me along and showed me the ropes. I was very grateful for that opportunity.” 

 A product of Cill Dara RFC just outside of Kildare Town, Delaney is also a past pupil of Ardscoil Rath Iomghain in her home village. She has since moved onto third-level education, but the 20-year-old is set to be back on familiar ground in the coming months.

She has just completed her second year of studying PE and Biology teaching at DCU and for her forthcoming work placement in October, she will be based in an ideal setting.

“I’m actually going back to Rathangan, which I’m looking forward to. I loved my time in school there, everyone was great and it’s always a good atmosphere. I’m excited to go back. It will definitely be a new challenge that I’m looking forward to.

“I just passed my second year exams, thankfully. It’s definitely tough, but I’m lucky. They’ve been really helpful in accommodating being able to play rugby and being away for some time.

“They’re really accommodating and I’ve a great group of friends that keep you in the loop and are very supportive. It’s definitely helpful. It’s tough, but enjoyable. It’s nice to have something outside.” 

 When she does begin her teaching stint in Rathangan, Delaney is hopeful it will be on the back of featuring at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup. It remains to be seen if she will make the final cut for the tournament, but there is no doubt that Delaney will be fighting tooth and nail to be on the flight across the water.

“It’s definitely stuff that you’d dream of when you’re a kid. Especially the 2017 World Cup being a home one as well. I remember watching that. It would be absolutely unbelievable if I were to make the squad and get the opportunity,” Delaney added.