Six months after their heartbreaking 18-13 World Cup quarter-final defeat to France, Ireland's women's team has reassembled for the 2026 Six Nations with renewed determination. Under head coach Scott Bemand, who has signed a new contract through the 2029 World Cup, the team aims to close the gap on France and England after consecutive third-place finishes.

Ireland faces a challenging campaign with both games against world champions England and France away from home. England has won seven consecutive Six Nations titles and hasn't lost since 2018. The Irish squad features nine uncapped players and a new captain, Erin King, who returns from a serious knee injury that kept her out of last year's World Cup.

The tournament opens with a record-breaking crowd expected at Allianz Stadium when Ireland faces England, with over 67,000 tickets already sold. The campaign concludes with home games against Wales and Scotland, including Ireland's first standalone Women's Six Nations fixture at the Aviva Stadium. Centre Eve Higgins emphasized the team's determination to finally defeat France, who have won their last five meetings but with shrinking margins.