Ireland joining elite only a matter of time - Wafer

Back row Aoife Wafer has predicted it is "only a matter of time" before Ireland join the ranks of the very best teams in the world.

The number eight was speaking as the Irish squad prepare for a WXV campaign in which they will face the United States in Dublin on 20 September, and then Japan twice on home soil, before travelling for two Tests with South Africa in late October.

Ireland were narrowly edged out by France at the quarter-final stage of last year's World Cup and have finished third behind England and the French in the past two Women's Six Nations championships.

Scott Bemand's side won all three of their home games in the 2026 Six Nations, with Wafer scoring five tries in their five games and being named as player of the championship for a second consecutive year.

"We are bridging that gap [to the world's top teams] and it's only a matter of time before we break into that," Wafer told BBC Sport NI's Nicola McCarthy.

"We're chasing those five wins [in WXV], which is the bare minimum for us. We speak about bringing Ireland back to being one of the best in the world, being a successful Ireland, everyone is hungry to do that.

"For us it's winning those games on our home shores, making Ireland a fortress and back that up away. It's great doing it at home but why not do it away too."

The Harlequins forward endured an injury-hit 2025, missing the start of the Rugby World Cup after knee surgery and then sustaining a broken collarbone and re-rupturing her MCL.

Wafer also broke the knuckle in her right hand in the win over Scotland at the Aviva Stadium in May of this year.

"I've been working in London and trying to get the body in a good space again. I'm feeling good and ready to get back into camp and into games," said the 23-year-old.

"WXV pits the top 10 all against each other so we are fortunate enough to play Japan, USA and South Africa.

"It's a really exciting fixture coming up against USA in Tallaght, somewhere we have never played before, and then Japan, and then head to South Africa for a little bit, which will be amazing.

"We have never toured there so it'll be pretty cool. The Tests that are coming up, each of them will pose a different challenge.

"It's great to be playing five Tests and each year we seem to be playing more games. Everyone's desperate to put on an Ireland jersey, so when you can do it an extra few times a year it's even better."

Wafer highlighted some of the specific strengths of the three teams Ireland will face over the coming months.

"The USA have a bit of everything in terms of physicality, breakdown pressure, decent in the lineout, as well as some really good scrummagers, so it will be a lot for us to tackle but a really exciting opportunity too.

"The Japanese are incredible around the breakdown too, really hard to move and really rapid in the backs too.

"The South Africans are renowned for their physicality. They have a pack that will happily beat you up and backs that can also beat you up."