Ireland captain Erin King has fired a sharp warning to her squad ahead of Sunday’s Women’s Six Nations finale against Scotland at the Aviva Stadium. With more than 28,000 tickets already snapped up, the Dublin venue is set to host its first ever standalone women’s international. But King insists the visitors are a wounded side who can really turn it on when it matters
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King Sounds Scotland Alarm Ahead Of Aviva Clash
The 22-year-old flanker is taking nothing for granted as her side aims to avenge last year’s painful loss to the Scots.
Ireland’s record against Scotland has not been plain sailing in recent years, with the visitors winning two of the last three Six Nations meetings between the sides. The last time Ireland tasted victory over Scotland was when they qualified for the Rugby World Cup back in 2024.
King knows her players cannot afford to switch off for a moment on Sunday. The Wicklow-based back rower praised Scotland’s pack and dangerous backline, calling it another physical test her team is ready to embrace.
“You only have to look at the Six Nations last year to see they really turn it on when it matters. They beat us last year and we don’t want that to happen again.”
Erin King, Ireland captain
Record Crowd Set To Make Aviva History
The atmosphere in Dublin is expected to be electric. As of Monday evening ticket sales for this weekend had hit 28,000, shattering any previous benchmark for an Ireland women’s home game.
That figure will smash the existing home record of 9,000 turning out in the Dexcom Stadium in Galway for Ireland’s 57-20 win over Italy in April. Organisers are now eyeing the 30,000 mark before kick-off at 2:30pm.
The round 5 fixture will be Ireland’s first-ever standalone fixture at the Dublin venue. The last time Ireland played at Aviva Stadium was in 2014 when they registered a 39-0 win against Italy as part of a double-header.
King says the buzz has lifted the entire squad.
“The history this stadium holds and the history we’re going to make on Sunday has really made us think of the women who have come before us and paved the way for us.”
Ireland Chase Third Home Win Of The Campaign
Scott Bemand’s side enters the weekend in a strong position. Currently third in the Six Nations table, two points ahead of Italy, a win on Sunday would keep Ireland in the right half of the table.
Here is how Ireland’s 2026 Six Nations campaign has played out so far:
| Round | Opponent | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | England | Twickenham | Lost 33-12 |
| 2 | Italy | Galway | Won 57-20 |
| 3 | France | Clermont | Lost |
| 4 | Wales | Belfast | Won 33-12 |
| 5 | Scotland | Aviva, Dublin | Sunday |
King says completing a hat-trick of home wins matters deeply to a group hungry for progress.
“It’s definitely really important for us. We’ve said we want to win our three home games and it’s something that we haven’t done in a good while. To get the win against Wales was really important for us to keep building that momentum going into this weekend.”
Scotland Battling Injury Crisis Under Fukofuka
The Scots arrive in Dublin with confidence dented but pride intact. Injuries have hammered Sione Fukofuka’s squad. They have had wholesale changes in their coaching set-up. There has been a lack of intensity from the Scots at times.
Their campaign sits at just one win, a tight 19-24 result away to Wales in Cardiff. Heavy defeats followed against England, Italy and France, the last of which ended 69-28 at Hive Stadium.
Key absentees have piled up across the championship:
- Lisa Thomson rejoining the squad after recovery
- Rachel McLachlan, Evie Wills and Hannah Walker ruled out for the rest of the championship
- Captain Rachel Malcolm battling fitness concerns
- Emma Orr ruled out, replaced by Holly McIntyre
Yet King is refusing to take Scotland lightly. She pointed to their dangerous backs and physical pack as proof that complacency would be fatal at Lansdowne Road.
Trailblazers Of 2014 To Get Long-Awaited Caps
Sunday’s occasion will carry deep emotional weight beyond the scoreline. As part of the ceremonies around Sunday’s fixture, many of the trailblazing 2014 Ireland squad have been invited to the Aviva Stadium to receive their caps. Those players laid the foundations before the women’s game lost its way here.
King herself is finally embracing the captaincy after early nerves. She missed out on the 2025 World Cup in England due to a knee injury, a setback that has shaped her leadership style.
Born in Australia and raised in the Middle East, King moved to Blessington in County Wicklow as a 12-year-old. Now she leads the Green Wave at Irish rugby’s spiritual home.
The growth of the women’s game in Ireland has been impossible to ignore over the past year.
Star number eight Aoife Wafer remains the reigning Player of the Championship. Alongside Béibhinn Parsons, Sam Monaghan and Linda Djougang, this group has captured fresh fans, sold out merchandise drops, and gone viral with TikTok content like the famous IRFU fleece moment.
Sunday is more than a match. It is a statement that Irish women’s rugby has arrived on the country’s biggest stage. With thousands of young girls expected in the crowd, Erin King and her team carry not just the hopes of a result but the dreams of a generation. The roar at the Aviva will tell its own story. What do you think of Ireland’s chances against Scotland on Sunday? Drop your predictions in the comments and share your support using #GuinnessW6N across X and Instagram.
