CORK, Ireland – Ivana Kiripati won two National Intercollegiate Rugby Association Division II National Championships in four years with the American International College women's rugby team.

On Saturday, August 2, she will add another impressive line to her sporting resume when she makes her senior national debut for her home country of Ireland against Scotland to open the team's Summer Send-Off series in preparation for the upcoming Rugby World Cup.

Kiripati is excited for the chance to represent her home country, saying, "I am so grateful to be representing Ireland at senior level. Rugby has been a huge part of my life since I was four years old. Both of my parents played, so I grew up with it being a huge aspect of my life."

The game, which is set for a 9:00 a.m. Eastern kickoff, will be held at Virgin Media Park in Cork, Ireland. The game will be streamed worldwide on RugbyPass TV; click here for the link to the stream.

Ireland Head Coach Scott Bemand has built significant trust in Kiripati's ability. Not only is she making her senior national debut, but she is in the starting 15, drawing the assignment at openside flanker.

Kiripati was a starter all four years for the Yellow Jackets from 2021-25, and played key roles in both runs to the College's national crowns. In her rookie campaign of 2021, she drew a yellow card that led ultimately to the winning kick against Queens University in the semifinal and scored the first try of the second half in the national championship win against West Chester University.

In 2024, she helped set up Naomi Dodd's game-winning try in the national championship against Davenport University, helping AIC to cap its first-ever perfect season in NIRA Division II, as the team went 6-0 against its competition.

Kiripati was named an All-NIRA First Team selection in 2023.

She credits her time at AIC with helping her develop as a player, saying "Playing at AIC, my teammates were a huge part of my journey and were my support system while I was there. They definitely kept me going. That sense of team and connection has definitely helped shaped me in being the player that I am today."

While at AIC, she made her international debut at the U20 level on Ireland's inaugural squad at that level in 2023. Her experience also includes significant time with the Connacht Rugby Club based in Galway, Ireland.