Scott Bemand: WXV3 a chance to 'get the plane off the runway'

Ireland women's coach Scott Bemand says the upcoming WXV3 campaign will be an opportunity to "get the plane off the runway" as they go in search of qualification for the next Rugby World Cup in 2025.

The Irish team take on Kazakhstan on Friday (4.30pm Irish time) in the first of their three games at the inaugural tournament in Dubai this month.

It will be also be a first game in change for new head coach Bemand, who has replaced Greg McWilliams since the Six Nations, in which Ireland finished bottom of the table after five defeats from five.

Having missed out on qualification for the last World Cup which was held in 2022 in New Zealand, Bemand has stated his main target in the short term is ensuring Ireland are at the next renewal in England in 2025.

A third place finish in the Six Nations next year will guarantee that, and while they could also qualify via the WXV over the next two years, achieving that goal at the earliest opportunity is their target.

"Essentially, the controllable we have is finishing third in the Six Nations," he said.

"This tournament, obviously our goal is to get out of WXV3 and progress forward to WXV2. That itself doesn't automatically qualify you. It could be part of the qualification pathway, but the first controllable is to finish third in the Six Nations.

"We have a great opportunity in the Six Nations in 2024, there are a couple of away games to navigate in France and England but we have the remaining fixture in Ireland."

And the former England assistant (above) believes their games against Kazakhstan, Colombia and Spain in the next fortnight will be ideal preparation in getting their plans off the ground.

"It’s the first thing we can go for. We have this competition in which we’re going to embed a