Erin King says being named Ireland captain before the Women’s Six Nations is the “ultimate honour” after fearing her Test career was over during an injury lay-off.
The 22-year-old, who recently returned from the serious knee injury that forced her to miss last year’s World Cup in England, takes over from co-captains Sam Monaghan and Edel McMahon.
The Australia-born flanker made her Ireland debut in 2024 and starred in the WXV1 win over New Zealand before being named the World Rugby women’s 15s breakthrough player of the year.
“I love playing with this team and representing our country alongside a special group of team-mates, and now to have the privilege of captaining the side is a hugely proud moment for me and my family,” said King, who has seven caps.
“I have experienced a difficult year coming back from a serious knee injury, during which I wondered whether I’d ever have the opportunity to pull on the green jersey again, so to come back and be asked by Scott [Bemand, head coach] to take on this responsibility is the highlight of my career.”
King added: “I will do my upmost to represent the team on and off the pitch with respect, dignity and the determination required of the title, doing all I can to help us grow and achieve our potential moving towards this Championship and beyond.
“Although I am still young in my career, I will relish the challenge ahead and know I will have incredible support all around me, not just from the leadership group, but from Sam [Monaghan] and Edel [McMahon], from whom I have learned so much about leadership and the qualities required to represent our country and the jersey on the world stage.”
Monaghan and McMahon – who was not named in Ireland’s training squad last week because of injury – had shared the captaincy since 2023.
Having scored two tries to help Ireland stun then world champions New Zealand in Vancouver in September 2024, King was a key player during the early stages of last year’s Six Nations before the knee injury that ruled her out for nearly a year.
The former Ireland Sevens Olympian made her comeback for the Wolfhounds in the Celtic Challenge earlier this month and will lead Ireland into the Six Nations as Bemand’s squad aim to build on last year’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals.
Ireland begin the campaign away to world champions England on 11 April before hosting Italy in Galway. The Irish then travel to France before home fixtures against Scotland and Wales.
King’s ascension to the captaincy follows a coaching reshuffle with former Ulster lock Alan O’Connor joining Bemand’s backroom team as forwards coach to replace Alex Codling.
Ireland began their Six Nations preparations with a three-day training camp at the IRFU High Performance Centre in Dublin this week.
