Ten Munster players have been named in the match day 22 for Ireland's opening game of the Women's Rugby World Cup with seven named in the starting XV.
In the backline Ireland's most capped player Lynne Cantwell makes a welcome return to the centre after a year out playing in New Zealand and Highfield's Helen Brosnan will call the shots at outhalf, with Clonmel's Niamh Briggs named at fullback. Earlier in the week the IRB highlighted Briggs as one of the "players to watch" in this tournament.
Munster's Gillian Bourke and Louise Austin are named in the front row with Kate O'Loughlin partnering Leinster's Marie Louise Reilly in the second row and the influential Joy Neville is named at number 8.
UL Bohemian's Louise Beamish and Mairead Kelly and Highfield's Laura Guest are named in the replacements.
Replacments:
16 - Yvonne Nolan (Blackrock/ Leinster)
17 - Laura Guest (Highfield/ Munster)
18 - Carol Staunton (Galwegians/ Connacht)
19 - Sinead Ryan (Blackrock/ Leinster)
20 - Louise Beamish (UL Bohemian/ Munster)
21 - Shannon Houston (Blackrock/ Leinster)
22 - Mairead Kelly (UL Bohemians/ Munster)
Ireland Women’s Rugby World Cup Fixtures:
England Women V Ireland Women, Surrey, Friday August 20th, 18:30 (Sky Sports 2)
USA Women V Ireland Women, Surrey, Tuesday, August 24th, 16:30
Ireland Women V Kazakhstan, Surrey, Saturday, August 28th, 16:30
Victory for Avonmore Supermilk Munster Schools Senior Cup holders Rockwell College, but defeat for the holders in the last two season's Crescent College Comprehensive in the Avonmore SuperMilk Munster Schools Junior Cup.
Munster Rugby recently hosted a girls rugby blitz day in Cork Institute of Technology with over 150 participants ranging from under 14 to under 18 age grade.
Kanturk advanced to the fifth round of the Munster Junior Cup as Presentation defeated Newcastle West in the final of the Munster Junior Clubs Challenge Shield in what was a very quite weekend on the junior front.