Rugby Newbie Linda Djougang: I Had to Google the Sport
When Ireland last qualified for the Rugby World Cup through competition rather than as hosts, Linda Djougang barely knew the sport existed. In fact, it was a full year later, during an internship at a finance company, that she found herself typing “what is rugby?” into Google. Her attempt to avoid playing tag rugby with colleagues failed when she couldn’t figure out how to remove her name from the team sheet. That stroke of technological misfortune led her to a moment that would change her life.
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An Accidental Introduction
Djougang joined her workplace tag rugby team simply to make friends. When the final match came around, she was unexpectedly asked to play because the team needed a woman. She admitted she’d never played before and spent the day researching the rules online. Her first outing at Wanderers RFC was full of mistakes—constant offsides, confusion about scoring—but her athleticism caught the coach’s attention. The club invited her to try “real rugby,” and soon she was playing in Division 4 before earning a shot at Leinster trials. That journey eventually took her to Old Belvedere, Leinster, and then the Irish national team.
From Newcomer to Mainstay
Born in Cameroon and raised in Rush, County Dublin from age nine, Djougang has been part of the Ireland setup since 2019, amassing close to 50 caps. Her career has spanned both challenging and uplifting periods for women’s rugby in Ireland. She played through the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup and endured a wooden spoon in the 2023 Six Nations, but also celebrated big wins in recent seasons.
A Turning Point for Ireland
The arrival of head coach Scott Bemand in 2023, along with central contracts for players, transformed the team’s fortunes. Highlights included a Six Nations third-place finish in 2024 and a historic victory over New Zealand at the WXV1 tournament in Canada. While competition for places is fierce—especially with the arrival of former England prop Ellena Perry—Djougang sees the growth in the squad as a reason to aim higher.
Looking Ahead to the World Cup
Ireland’s 2025 World Cup campaign begins with matches against Japan and Spain before a crucial clash with top seeds New Zealand. For Djougang, the immediate focus is on advancing from the pool stage. She knows the competition is unpredictable, but the team’s recent progress suggests they’re no longer underdogs.
