King Named Ireland Captain For 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations

Head Coach Scott Bemand has today announced the appointment of Erin King as Ireland captain for the 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations.

Having recently returned from injury, King will lead Ireland into this year’s Championship, which gets underway against England at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on Saturday, 11 April.

The 22-year-old flanker has made a significant impact in the green jersey since her Test debut against Australia in 2024, starring for Bemand’s side in their WXV1 campaign in Vancouver, before being named World Rugby Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year.

Through her performances in the back row, King’s stature within the dressing room and on the pitch has grown hugely, emerging as a key leader and powerful force in the Ireland engine room.

Capped seven times at Test level, King has scored three tries for Ireland, most memorably scoring a second-half brace as Bemand’s side defeated New Zealand in Vancouver in September 2024, and her appointment as captain ahead of the 2026 Championship is further evidence of her world-class potential and leadership qualities in green.

King made her breakthrough on the world stage for Ireland Women’s Sevens as she debuted on the HSBC SVNS Series in Dubai in 2021, before representing Ireland at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Commenting on today’s news, she said: “It is the ultimate honour to be asked to captain Ireland for the Guinness Women’s Six Nations. I love playing with this team and representing our country alongside a special group of team-mates, and now to have the privilege of captaining the side is a hugely proud moment for me and my family.

“I have experienced a difficult year coming back from a serious knee injury, during which I wondered whether I’d ever have the opportunity to pull on the green jersey again, so to come back and be asked by Scott to take on this responsibility is the highlight of my career. I will do my upmost to represent the team on and off the pitch with respect, dignity and the determination required of the title, doing all I can to help us grow and achieve our potential moving towards this Championship and beyond.

“Although I am still young in my career, I will relish the challenge ahead and know I will have incredible support all around me, not just from the leadership group, but from Sam [Monaghan] and Edel [McMahon], from whom I have learned so much about leadership and the qualities required to represent our country and the jersey on the world stage.”

The Ireland squad launched their preparations for the Guinness Women’s Six Nations with a three-day training camp at the IRFU High Performance Centre this week.

Ireland will open their Championship in London, before hosting Italy at Dexcom Stadium in Galway on Saturday, April 18 (kick-off 5.40pm).

Secure your tickets for a historic occasion at Aviva Stadium!

Bemand’s charges then travel to France in Round 3 on Saturday, April 25 (kick-off 8.10pm), before concluding the Championship with back-to-back home games in Belfast and Dublin.

Wales will be the visitors to Affidea Stadium in Round 4 on Saturday, May 9 (kick-off 6.30pm), before Scotland come to the Aviva Stadium on the final weekend on Sunday, May 17 (kick-off 2.30pm).

The Round 5 encounter will be the first ever standalone Women’s international at the home of Irish Rugby, and ticket sales have already passed the 12,500 mark.