Ireland Women’s Team Named

The Ireland Women’s RBS 6 Nations Championship kicks off this Friday, 5th February at 7.30 pm in Ashbourne RFC against Wales.

Munster players Niamh Kavanagh, Niamh Briggs, Gillian Bourke, Laura Guest and Joy Neville have been named in the first XV with Heather O’Brien and Siobhan Fleming on the replacements.

Ireland’s most capped player Lynne Cantwell will start at out-half and will form a new half back pairing with Amy Davis while Grace Davitt returns to the team after missing out last season and forms the centre partnership with Munster and Ireland veteran Niamh Briggs.

Up front Fiona Coghlan will again captain the side and she is joined in the front row by Munster hooker Gillian Bourke and Ailis Egan.

Sophie Spence is the other new cap in the second row and she starts alongside the now established Marie Louise Reilly.

The back row has an experienced look with Laura Guest and Claire Molloy packing down either side of Joy Neville.

Ireland Women’s Team

15. Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins – Ulster)*
14. Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians – Munster)
13. Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians – Munster)
12. Grace Davitt (Cooke – Ulster)
11. Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Highfield – Connacht)
10. Lynne Cantwell (Exile)
9. Amy Davis (Blackrock – Leinster)

1. Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians – Leinster) Captain
2. Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians – Munster)
3. Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere – Leinster)
4. Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere – Leinster)
5. Sophie Spence (Exile)*
6. Laura Guest (Highfield – Munster)
7. Claire Molloy (Bristol – Exile)
8. Joy Neville (UL Bohemians – Munster)

Replacements:

16. Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary's – Leinster)*
17. Ruth O'Reilly (Galwegians – Connacht)*
18. Siobhan Fleming (Tralee – Munster)*
19. Heather O'Brien (Highfield – Munster)
20. Larissa Muldoon (Exile/UWIC – Ulster)
21. Nikki Caughey (Belfast Harlequins – Ulster)*
22. A.N. Other

*Denotes Uncapped Player