KINALLEN native Beth Taylor has been selected in Ireland’s Women’s Open squad for the 2026 International Tag Federation (ITF) Tag Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Taylor, who plays for Dromore Ladies Tag Rugby Team, will travel to Coffs Harbour, around 500 kilometres north of Sydney, for the tournament, which runs from 15-18 October. More than 200 teams from over 30 countries are expected to compete across men’s, women’s and mixed competitions.
Taylor’s selection comes after several years with Dromore, where she has combined the demands of amateur sport with full-time work.
Ireland is regarded as one of the leading nations in tag rugby and enjoyed a successful home World Cup in Limerick in 2023, winning medals in eight divisions.
Despite the sport’s growing international profile, tag rugby remains amateur, with international players balancing training and competition alongside work and family commitments. More than 15,000 players take part in leagues organised by the Irish Tag Rugby Association across the country.
Speaking after her selection, Taylor said: “It’s an absolute honour to be selected to represent Ireland at a World Cup. Australia is the home of the sport, and travelling there is a huge and very exciting challenge.
“We are incredibly grateful for SMBC Aviation Capital’s support on this journey, which will pit us against the best players in the world while proudly representing Ireland and Kinallen.”
Before travelling to Australia, Ireland will host Great Britain in the annual British and Irish Cup at UCD, Dublin, over the August Bank Holiday weekend, with 45 international test matches scheduled across Saturday 1 August and Sunday 2 August.
