WAGS Shine as Ireland Rugby Takes on Six Nations

As the Six Nations roared into life this week, all eyes were firmly fixed on the pitch – and, let’s face it, on the sidelines too. We all know that behind every crunching tackle, nerveless kick and perfectly executed line-out is a woman holding the fort: raising families, building careers and cheering louder than anyone in the stands.

From doctors and architects to artists, influencers and elite athletes, Irish rugby’s WAGs are far more than glamorous plus-ones. They’re the calm in the chaos, the logistics managers, the emotional anchors – and yes, they bring some serious style to boot.

As Ireland continue to chase Six Nations glory, here’s your insider guide to the women backing the boys in green. And yes, strong scrums really do start at home...

Colleen Farrell with her husband Andy, Ireland's head coach

Colleen Farrell

Partner: Andy Farrell, Ireland head coach

Rugby truly runs in the DNA for Colleen Farrell. A childhood sweetheart of Ireland head coach Andy Farrell, the Wigan native has been his rock since their teens, marrying in 1995 and raising four children along the way, including England star Owen Farrell, which must make for interesting family get-togethers. Becoming a mum at just 17, Colleen put her own ambitions on hold, a sacrifice Andy has often credited as key to his success.

Now firmly settled in Sandymount after a decade in Ireland, the blonde bombshell more than holds her own in the style stakes and proudly wears the title of ‘glam granny’ to Owen’s two little boys. With rugby league and union royalty flowing through the family tree, Colleen is the ultimate Irish rugby WAG, bar none.

Dan Sheehan and Katherine Egan

Katherine Egan

Partner: Dan Sheehan, Leinster and Ireland hooker

If Dan Sheehan’s recovery from an ACL injury last year seemed impressive, having a doctor on the sidelines probably didn’t hurt. His long-time partner Katherine Egan is beauty, brains and athleticism combined. A UCD graduate with first-class honours in medicine, she was an intern doctor at the Mater Hospital and was a standout hockey player during her studies. An alumna of elite South Dublin secondary school Alexandra College, Katharine has been by Dan’s side since their teens – the couple even attended a Debs together in 2017.

Her partner has been described as one of the best hookers in the world because of his skill and strength, but between hospital shifts and picture-perfect pitch-side appearances, this glamourous medic seems just as formidable.

Garry Ringrose with Ellen Beirne

Ellen Beirne

Partner: Garry Ringrose, Leinster and Ireland centre

Garry Ringrose knows the value of a strong support system and his wife Ellen Beirne brings science to the scrum. A registered dietitian with a Masters in clinical nutrition and dietetics, Ellen’s expertise must play a crucial role in Garry’s success – in elite performance, nutrition is second only to sleep.

The couple tied the knot in a dreamy summer wedding at

Virginia Park Lodge in June 2023, surrounded by family and friends. Garry has been open about how much her support means, calling himself ‘incredibly lucky’ to have her by his side during both highs and lows. With brains, beauty and a deep understanding of high- performance sport, Ellen is a key player in her own right.

Anna Walsh and Sam Prendergast

Anna Walsh

Partner: Sam Prendergast, fly half

It’s a big week in the Prendergast household, with both Sam and flanker brother Cian lining out for Ireland. No doubt Anna Walsh, girlfriend of fly-half Sam, will be soaking up the excitement – and she’ll be well used to it too. Anna works in the ultra-glamorous world of lifestyle PR, with experience across fashion, beauty and jewellery, and knows that attention to detail and an ability to stay cool under pressure is what’s required to get the job done.

While the couple keep their relationship relatively private, Sam shared a rare black-tie snap back in 2022, confirming Anna’s place firmly in his corner. With her polished presence and industry know-how, Anna brings star quality to the stands, proving that when it comes to game management, she’s a PR pro.

Tadgh Beirne and Harriet Fuller Pic: Instagram

Harriet Fuller

Partner: Tadhg Beirne, Ireland and Munster lock

Tadhg Beirne’s powerhouse performances are one thing, but can we talk about wife Harriet Fuller’s style credentials? The Welsh influencer, who met Tadhg on a night out in Cardiff back in 2018, boasts over 45,000 followers and regularly posts on her chic wardrobe choices and her health and beauty regimes.

Playing the long-distance love game paid off, with the couple marrying in a lavish Kilkea Castle wedding and welcoming daughter Penelope Robyn last December.

Harriet has also shared a little about the couple’s fertility journey alongside her more polished fashion content – so it shows she can juggle new-mum realness and aspirational lifestyle, all with the poise of a seasoned international.

Sophie De Patoul

 Sophie De Patoul 

Partner: Josh van der Flier, Ireland Flanker

Belgian-Irish beauty Sophie De Patoul makes sacrifice look effortlessly stylish. The wife of World Player of the Year Josh van der Flier, Sophie has built an impressive career in luxury retail and marketing, now working as a marketing executive with a luxury jewellery company.

Josh has spoken candidly about the toll rugby takes on families, crediting Sophie, who attended the well-heeled Muckross Park College and later graduated with a BA in business and Spanish from Technological University Dublin, for her unwavering support.

From the most chic sideline looks to exquisite eveningwear, Sophie can’t help but sparkle.

Jack and Ali Conan on holidays

Ali Conan

Partner: Jack Conan, back row

As pro-rugby nutrition focuses on high-calorie, nutrient-dense diets to support intense training, muscle growth and rapid recovery, often requiring 3,750-plus calories daily, you can bet that Ali Conan has her work cut out with her husband, Ireland’s number 8.

A dietitian with the Dublin Nutrition Centre, Ali specialises in women’s health, fertility and menopause, while also sharing accessible advice on Instagram.

The couple welcomed daughter Remi in summer 2024, adding parenthood to their already full plates. With elite sport and evidence-based wellness under one roof, this is one power couple indeed.

Jenny Clein and Craig Casey

Jenny Clein,

Partner: Craig Casey, Ireland scrum-half

Craig Casey’s rapid recovery from injury may have had something to do with healing hands at home. His girlfriend Jenny Clein is a qualified pharmacist, graduating from UCC in 2022, a milestone Craig proudly celebrated online.

Together for three years, the fun-loving couple often share glimpses of their lives on social media, enjoying sun-soaked holidays in locations like Nice, Portugal and Hvar, playing padel and generally having plenty of laughs — which shows that

Ireland’s pocket rocket Casey is having a big impact on glamazon Jenny.

Erin O’Connell,

Partner: Jack Crowley, Munster and Ireland fly-half

Munster fly-half Jack Crowley may have gone Instagram- official with Erin O’Connell on Valentine’s Day 2025, but the gorgeous brunette has been on the sidelines for some time, with eagle eyes spotting her on a summer holiday trip following Ireland’s tour of South Africa in 2024.

News of the romance no doubt disappointed women across the country as in March 2024, Jess O’Mahony, wife of Cork rugby star Peter, shared a snap with Jack, advertising that ‘a fine man is available’.

Not any more — and as a UCC business graduate and former Cork Rose of Tralee contestant, what a catch Erin is.

Joanna Cooper, model,  entrepreneur and partner of Conor Murray

 Joanna Cooper 

Partner: Conor Murray, former Ireland scrum-half

Even in retirement, Conor Murray will be in the thick of the Six Nations action as a panellist for Virgin Media and his uber-glam wife, Derry girl Joanna Cooper, is still serving A-list sideline glamour. A former Miss Universe Ireland with over 180,000 followers, Joanna has seamlessly swapped catwalks for the boardroom, founding Coops Cocktails, the chic, easy-serve tipple now firmly favoured by the fashionable set. Add to that her newly launched Joanna Cooper x Crystals & Co jewellery collection, inspired by ‘golden hours, travel and forever pieces’, and it’s clear this is a woman who is top of her very fashionable game. Plus the couple – who are now parents to baby Alfie – are building a new home near Joanna’s native Derry. Talk about juggling all the balls but it’s not a bother to this powerhouse pair.

Patti Grogan, athlete and partner of Jamison Gibson Park

 Patti Grogan

Partner: Jamison Gibson-Park, Ireland scrum-half

Jamison Gibson-Park may be Ireland’s metronomic scrum-half, but at home, his wife Patti Grogan is plotting her own comeback story. Both New Zealand natives, the couple now call Dublin home with their three children – daughters Iris and Isabella, and son Jai. A former New Zealand international judoka, Patti is eyeing a return to elite competition after a decade focused on motherhood. Jamison has spoken candidly about his wife’s renewed ambition, revealing she’s spending more time back in the dojo and taking her competitive future seriously. Don’t be surprised if Patti ends up flying the flag for Ireland herself yet.

Meadbh McGann runs McGann Clann 

Meadhbh McGann

Partner: Caelan Doris, Ireland captain

Caelan Doris’s stunning partner Meadhbh McGann brings a bit of soul to the squad. A model and holistic health practitioner, Meadhbh’s journey has taken her from corporate life to trauma-informed coaching. Her business, the McGann Clann, helps women with hormones, gut health and body image using methods like compassionate inquiry and spinal energetics.

After a life-changing moment in Bali, she radically reclaimed her life path, and it looks like it’s led her right into the arms of Ireland’s captain, with the couple ‘hard-launching’ their relationship around November last year.