Head coach Scott Bemand has announced the Ireland team (sponsored by Aon) for their Round 3 Guinness Women’s Six Nations clash with Wales at Virgin Media Park on Saturday (kick-off 4.45pm).
Bemand has made one change to the starting fifteen from the team against Italy with Co-Captain Edel McMahon returning to the back row.
Cliodhna Moloney named on the bench for Ireland’s Women’s Six Nations game against Wales in Cork on Saturday.
Set to win her first cap since November 2021.
Co-captain Edel McMahon back in the team in the one change from the side that started against Italy.— Sinéad Kissane (@sineadkissane) April 11, 2024
Following the record attendance at the RDS and with 5,500 tickets already sold another large crowd is expected in Cork. Tickets are on sale from ticketmaster.ie and will be on sale on the day from the Ticketmaster booth at the Dolphin end.
The front row remains the same with Linda Djougang and Christy Haney packing down either side of Neve Jones.
Dorothy Wall partners Sam Monaghan in the second row while Aoife Wafer moves across the backrow with McMahon coming in at 7 and Brittany Hogan again named at 8.
Dannah O’Brien is at out-half with Aoibheann Reilly at scrumhalf. Enya Breen and Eve Higgins make up the centre partnership and the back three remains unchanged with Béibhinn Parsons, Katie Corrigan and Lauren Delany all set to start.
The uncapped Shannon Ikahihifo, who came through IQ Rugby, is named on the bench as is Cliodhna Moloney who was recalled to the squad this week.
They join Niamh O’Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath and Fiona Tuite as the forward replacements.
Aoife Dalton is named alongside Nicole Fowley and Molly Scuffil-McCabe, as the replacement backs.
Commenting on the selection, the Ireland Head Coach said:
“This game is another opportunity for us to perform in front of our home support. We want to get the tide of support and noise behind us. The hard work has gone in and now we’re ready to go after that winning performance.”
Sunday’s match is live on Virgin Media with live updates on @irishrugby's twitter and instagram channels.
The Ireland team to face Wales in Round 3 of the @Womens6Nations on Saturday in Cork! 💪 #IrishRugby #WeAreIreland
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) April 11, 2024
Ireland Team (v Wales, Saturday 13 April, Virgin Media Park, kick off 4.45pm)
15. Lauren Delany (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby) 24
14. Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) 2
13. Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC) 14
12. Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC/Munster) 18
11. Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht) 23
10. Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) 12
9. Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht) 9
1. Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) 34
2. Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury) 23
3. Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster) 15
4. Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College RFC/Munster) 25
5. Sam Monaghan (Gloucester-Hartpury) 19 Co-Captain
6. Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster) 4
7. Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs) 25 Co-Captain
8. Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster) 20
Replacements:
16. Clíodhna Moloney (Exeter Chiefs) 31
17. Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) 4
18. Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster) 10
19. Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster) 4
20. Shannon Ikahihifo (Ealing Trailfinders/IQ Rugby) *
21. Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Leinster) 14
22. Nicole Fowley (Galwegians RFC/Connacht) 11
23. Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) 12
* Denotes uncapped players
"She's got a bit of edge to her. We know she's going to break the line and create line break opportunities."
Scott Bemand on Cliodhna Moloney who is named in an Ireland squad for Saturday for the first time since November 2021. #IREvWAL | #GuinnessW6N pic.twitter.com/F0oGYeQvPA— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) April 11, 2024
