Four Connacht players in Irish matchday squad for Six Nations opener
Connacht's Aoibheann Reilly and Beibhinn Parsons celebrate the Ireland Women’s Rugby Sevens team's recent success in Perth. Both players will start for Ireland tomorrow in their Guinness Women's Six Nations clash against France.
Ireland Head Coach Scott Bemand has named the matchday squad for Saturday’s opening Guinness Women’s Six Nations clash against France, at Stade Marie-Marvingt (Kick-off 2.15pm Irish time, live on RTÉ).
Former Connacht player Edel McMahon will captain the side from the back row, as co-captain Sam Monaghan is continuing her return to play protocols, with one uncapped player named in the matchday squad.
18-year-old Leinster winger Katie Corrigan is selected on the wing for her first cap having impressed Bemand and the Ireland coaching team during the recent Celtic Challenge competition.
Corrigan is joined in the back three by Lauren Delany at full-back with Ballinasloe native Béibhinn Parsons on the other wing.
Sligo's Nicole Fowley starts at out-half, marking her return to the Championship for the first time since 2019. Fowley made her international comeback in October for the WXV3 series in Dubai against Kazakhstan. She will be joined by fellow Connacht player Aoibheann Reilly who will start at scrum-half.
Aoife Dalton and Eve Higgins make up the centre pairing.
Molly Scuffil-McCabe, Dannah O’Brien and Connacht's Méabh Deely provide the backline reinforcements on the bench.
Up front, Linda Djougang, Neve Jones and Christy Haney make up the front row, with Dorothy Wall and Hannah O’Connor in the second row.
McMahon, is joined in the backrow by Aoife Wafer and Brittany Hogan.
Sarah Delaney, Niamh O’Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath, Fiona Tuite and Grace Moore give Bemand strong options from the bench.
Commenting on the selection, Scott Bemand said: “We are all very excited to get our Guinness Women’s Six Nations campaign underway and we come into this weekend ready to put a confident performance out there. We have had a good block of preparation with players returning and we are ready to compete. I’m looking forward to seeing all the hard work come together on Saturday and what a place to kick start our Six Nations, in Stade Marie-Marvingt.”
Ireland (v France): Lauren Delany, Katie Corrigan, Eve Higgins, Aoife Dalton, Béibhinn Parsons, Nicole Fowley, Aoibheann Reilly; Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Christy Haney, Dorothy Wall, Hannah O’Connor, Aoife Wafer, Edel McMahon (captain), Brittany Hogan.
Replacements: Sarah Delaney, Niamh O’Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath, Fiona Tuite, Grace Moore, Molly Scuffil-McCabe, Dannah O’Brien, Méabh Deely.
