Fleming To Lead Munster Women In Opener

1st December 2016 By Munster Rugby

Tralee RFC’s Siobhán Fleming will lead the Munster Women’s team, sponsored by Keanes jewellers, in their Interprovincial opener away to Ulster on Saturday (3pm).

Head Coach Wayne Falvey has named 11 players from UL Bohemians, leaders in Division 1 of the Women's AIL, in the 23. Nine Highfield players are included along with two from Tralee and one from Shannon.

Full-back Aine Staunton makes her first start from full-back as winger Eimear Considine, who has played with the Ireland 7s team, makes her Munster debut.

The starting XV is full of experienced internationals with seven of the eight forwards full Ireland internationals. Outside centre Niamh Kavanagh is another of the international contingent and the UL Bohs star recently touched down for Ireland in the defeat to New Zealand.

There is a mixture of youth and experience on the replacements bench with Irish internationals Zoe Grattage and Fiona Hayes among the front row substitutes.

Nuala O'Connor, Sara Hartigan, Christine Arthurs and Laura Sheehan are all primed to make their Munster debuts off the bench. Highfield's Arthurs previously lined out for Connacht.

Head Coach Falvey is in his third season at the helm of the Munster Women's team and has led the side to two Interprovincial titles. The team's sole focus this weekend is on opening the campaign with a positive performance.

"With a lot of new faces in the squad this year, our focus is on Ulster in the first game and making sure we're set for that," says Falvey. "There will be new faces in the squad travelling up so we need to make sure we get that performance so we can kick on then."

Munster team to face Ulster
15. Aine Staunton (UL Bohemians RFC)
14. Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird (UL Bohemians RFC)
13. Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians RFC)
12. Nicola Scully (Highfield RFC)
11. Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians RFC)*
10. Valerie Power (Shannon RFC)
9. Ellen Murphy (Highfield RFC)

1. Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians RFC)
2. Gill Bourke (UL Bohemians RFC)
3. Leah Lyons (Highfield RFC)
4. Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemians RFC)
5. Orlaith Buckley (Highfield RFC)
6. Siobhán Fleming (Tralee RFC) (C)
7. Anna Caplice (UL Bohemians RFC)
8. Heather O’Brien (Highfield RFC)

Replacements:
16. Zoe Grattage (Highfield RFC)
17. Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians RFC)
18. Nuala O’Connor (Tralee RFC)*
19. Sara Hartigan (UL Bohemians RFC)*
20. Christine Arthurs (Highfield RFC)*
21. Mona Fehily (Highfield RFC)
22. Edel Murphy (UL Bohemians RFC)
23. Laura Sheehan (Highfield RFC)*