Head Coach Scott Bemand has named the Ireland Match Day Squad, sponsored by Aon, for Saturday’s Guinness Women’s Six Nations opener against France at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast.
Bemand has named Aimee-Leigh Costigan (formerly Murphy Crowe) as captain and Neve Jones as vice-captain as the on-pitch leaders, with squad captain Edel McMahon set to come on as a finisher.
It’ll be the first time Costigan captains Ireland in a Test match, having previously led Ireland Sevens in the HSBC SVNS Series.
Stacey Flood, Anna McGann and Costigan are named in the Ireland back three, with Eve Higgins and Aoife Dalton making up the midfield pairing, while Emily Lane starts at scrum-half to partner Dannah O’Brien in the half-backs.
In the pack, Niamh O’Dowd, Neve Jones and Linda Djougang start in the front row, with Ruth Campbell, who makes her Championship debut in green, and Dorothy Wall in the second row.
Brittany Hogan is at blindside flanker. Erin King – the World Rugby Women’s Breakthrough Player of the Year – makes her Six Nations debut at openside, and Aoife Wafer completes Ireland’s starting XV.
Bemand has strong options among the replacements, with Cliodhna Moloney, Siobhan McCarthy, Christy Haney, Grace Moore, Fiona Tuite and squad captain McMahon providing the forward reinforcements. At the same time, Aoibheann Reilly and Enya Breen are the backline replacements.
“We are really excited to get our 2025 season underway in front of our home crowd in Belfast this Saturday,” said Bemand.
“there could not be a better challenge to start with than the visit of a very talented France side. We have had a strong block of preparation leading into the Championship, and the intensity of training and competition for places within the Match Day Squad has driven standards in camp.”
“Building on from our WXV1 campaign last Autumn, we’re now focused on producing a performance this Saturday and showcasing further growth and evolution in our game at the start of a very exciting year for Irish Rugby.”
Saturday’s match, which kicks off at 13:00, will be live on Virgin Media One and BBC Northern Ireland. Live radio commentary will be available on RTE Radio 1.
Further Reading for Sport for Business Members: The Rising Momentum of Irish Women’s Rugby
SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
One week after the conclusion of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations the Women’s game moves centre stage where it deserves to be. Creating a separate window for the tournament to run consecutively rather than concurrently has given the tournament and the players room to be given the attention they deserve.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
The Guinness Women’s Six Nations Gets Underway this Saturday, with Ireland playing France in Belfast at 13:00.
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