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Erin King, 22, Named Ireland Captain Ahead of 2026 Women’s Six Nations

The back-rower earns the role after an early return from complex knee surgery.

Overview

  • Head coach Scott Bemand informed King during a three-day camp, telling her privately before announcing it to the squad on Monday.
  • She succeeds co-captains Sam Monaghan and Edel McMahon, with McMahon sidelined by knee issues.
  • Following microfracture surgery that used porcine collagen, King returned ahead of schedule for the Wolfhounds on 3 January and completed full training this week.
  • The 22-year-old has seven Test caps and was World Rugby’s Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year in 2024.
  • Ireland open the Six Nations at Twickenham against world champions England on 11 April, with McMahon expected to miss the tournament.