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The WXV Global Series has certainly delivered so far!

Wales ended a 14-month wait for a Test win with an eight-try 50-19 victory over South Africa at Cardiff Arms Park.

Canada then did what few teams have managed to do – stop England in their tracks. In a repeat of last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup final, Canada brought the Red Roses' 39-match winning run to an end with a thrilling 26-26 draw in Exeter.

Italy opened their campaign with a dominant 55-21 victory over Japan.

France managed to edge a 29-26 win over Australia after being 19 points down and reduced at one point to just 11 players.

And finally, the Black Ferns ran in 10 tries over Scotland in a comfortable 66-14 win at Edinburgh’s Hive Stadium.

The teams are coming out onto the pitch... It's almost go time!

Head coach Scott Bemand has named an experience pack to take on the USA, but Jemima Adams Verling is set to start in green today for her senior debut for Ireland.

The 20-year-old has come through Irish Rugby’s player development pathway and has massively impressed over the last few seasons.

Playing as flanker, she starred for Ireland at the U18 Women’s Six Nations Festival in 2024 and during last season’s U21 Women's Six Nations Series, where she scored against England and Wales.

She most recently had a strong campaign for Connacht in the Women’s Interprovincial Championship in August and was included in last year’s extended Guinness Women’s Six Nations squad after impressing for the Clovers in the Celtic Challenge.

A promising talent, for sure.

Let’s take a look at the USA’s team, who are coached by Skerries-born Jack Hanratty after he was appointed as head coach at the beginning of the year.

It is the first time the side have played since their Test-series draw with South Africa in July and they’re ready for the challenge, with starts from newer XV call ups Abigail Paton, Tessa Hann and Kayla Cannet.

Returning from injury, powerhouse Keia Mae Sagapolu-Senele starts in the front row, alongside the Eagles’ record cap holder Hope Rogers and Kathryn Treder.

Lock Rachel Ehrecke also returns to the starting pack from injury and partners Hallie Taufoou.

Co-captain Georgie Perris-Redding will lead the pack, with Hann Humphreys and Freda Tafuna joining her in the back row.

Erica Coulibaly, Telesi Uhatafe and Kayla Canett form the USA’s back three, with Emily Henrich and Tessa Hann combining in the midfield and Bella Vogel and Abigail Paton making up the half-back partnership.

On the bench, the USA’s other co-captain Erica Jarrell-Searcy makes her return and Nina Mason will look to make her first start in a USA jersey as a replacement in the backline, with Alivia Leatherman, Chloe Hill-Huse, Reece Wood, Kapoina Bailey, Kate Zackary and Cassidy Bargell completing the 23.

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Head coach Scott Bemand has named his latest Ireland debutant as Connacht’s Jemima Adams Verling will win her first senior Test cap today at blind-side flanker.

The 20-year-old will be joined by captain Erin King at open-side flanker and Women's Six Nations player of the championship Aoife Wafer at number eight.

Props Niamh O'Dowd and Linda Djougang will form the front row, alongside hooker Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald.

Dorothy Wall and Fiona Tuite-O’Sullivan make up the second row, with Sam Monaghahn ruled out of the campaign due to injury.

In the back three, Stacey Flood starts at full-back with try-scoring machine Robyn O'Connor and Vicky Elmes Kinlan on the wings.

Aoife Dalton and Eve Higgins have been chosen in midfield, with Dannah O'Brien and Emily Lane retaining their half-back partnership from the Six Nations.

Jane Clohessy and Aoibheann Reilly return to the squad after injury disrupted their Six Nations campaigns and have been named on the bench, with Neve Jones, Sadhbh McGrath, Eilis Cahill, Jane Clohessy and Brittany Hogan completing the forward options and Anna McGann and Niamh Gallagher offering backline cover.

Ireland: Stacey Flood; Robyn O'Connor, Aoife Dalton, Eve Higgins, Vicky Elmes Kinlan; Dannah O'Brien, Emily Lane; Niamh O’Dowd, Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald, Linda Djougang; Dorothy Wall, Fiona Tuite-O'Sullivan; Jemima Adams Verling, Erin King (capt), Aoife Wafer.

Replacements: Neve Jones, Sadhbh McGrath, Eilis Cahill, Jane Clohessy, Brittany Hogan, Aoibheann Reilly, Anna McGann, Niamh Gallagher.

USA: Kayla Canett; Telesi Uhatafe, Tessa Hann, Emily Heinrich, Erica Coulibaly; Bella Vogel, Abigail Paton; Hope Rogers, Kathryn Treder, Keia Mae Sagapolu-Senele; Hallie Taufoou, Rachel Ehrecke; Hann Humphreys, Georgie Perris-Redding (co-capt), Freda Tafuna.

Replacements: Alivia Leatherman, Chloe Hill-Huse, Reece Woods, Erica Jarrell-Searcy (co-capt), Kapoina Bailey, Kate Zackary, Cassidy Bargell, Nina Mason.

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First up, today's encounter against the USA - the first women's Test match to be held at the venue!

A week later, the girls in green will head out west to Galway’s Dexcom Stadium, where they will face Japan on Sunday 27 September (kick-off 12:45).

Ireland will have a second opportunity to take on Japan – although this fixture will sit outside of the WXV Global Series – when the sides meet at Virgin Media Park in Cork on Saturday 3 October (14:00).

Then comes South Africa.

Ireland will face the hosts on consecutive weekends at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, with the first Test taking place on Saturday 24 October (14:00), before the series concludes on Saturday 31 October (13:00).

The WXV Global Series has replaced the WXV competition, with England winning both editions of the premier section (WXV1) in 2023 and 2024.

Over the course of eight weeks, from 12 September to 31 October, the world’s top 12 ranked national teams – England, New Zealand, Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, USA, Australia, South Africa, Japan and Wales - will be competing in a new home-and-away touring model.

Six emerging nations – Fiji, Spain, Samoa, Hong Kong China, the Netherlands and Brazil - will also compete in a centrally hosted tournament at Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong at the WXV Global Series Challenger.

With the next Women's Rugby World Cup 2029 already in many's sights, the WXV will play a key part of qualification and is set to deliver lots of great Test-match experience for the nations involved.

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Hello!

It’s time to get Ireland’s WXV Global Series campaign under way, as they take on the USA at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin.

It's a new series, a new venue and there's a growing green wave of support behind Scott Bemand's side, but can they start strong?

Stay with us to find out!