Hogan emotional after ending seven-year grind with win

Brittany Hogan was named player of the match in Ireland's opening win over Japan

Ireland's Brittany Hogan admits it was hard to keep her emotions in check after putting seven years of graft to good use with a starring role in Sunday's Women's Rugby World Cup win over Japan.

Hogan fended off stiff competition from a number of impressive displays from her team-mates to be named player of the match in Ireland's 42-14 win at Franklin's Gardens in Northampton.

Having failed to qualify for the last tournament, the Ulster forward said starting the tournament on a high note was particularly sweet.

"It means so much for us to get that performance today," Hogan told BBC Sport NI.

"The occasion meant so much to the whole team. We haven't been here since 2017 so could have went into our shells but that first-half performance was great.

"We scored some super tries. Japan came back at us in the second half and really put us down the throttle but I was so proud of the effort the girls put in to hold them back."

Hogan, who in the build-up to the tournament revealed how she used rugby to help cope with the grief after the death of her father in 2023, added: "I was part of the team that didn't qualify in 2021 so I've been working and grinding to get here for seven years.

"It was so exciting to finally be there and a little bit of emotions came out [at the end]."

Hogan also admitted she was "really surprised" at being named player of the match.

"It was a really tough game with the heat and the ball-in-play time was really high. Japan are a skilful time so we didn't have much set-piece.

"I was really surprised at the end of it. We had so many good performances across the board but that's what you need to be a world-class outfit."