Ireland Women’s Team to play Wales Announced

Ireland coach Philip Doyle has made two changes to the teamto play Wales on Saturday, with scrum half Tania Rosser back in the starting 15 and Rosie Foley brought onto the bench

IRELAND coach, Philip Doyle has made two changes to his team to take on Wales this Saturday. In the starting line-up, Blackrock scrum-half Tania Rosser, is back in the number nine jersey, following her departure for personal reasons from the Ireland squad for their loss in France two weekes ago.

Louise Beamish, who took Rosser s place, is back on the bench where she is joined by one new face Rosie Foley, the lock who rejoins the squad for the first time since the end of last year s campaign. The former Munster captain, had her first baby last year but has been involved in club and Irish training in recent months. Her return means that 20-year-old Clonakilty prop Laura Geist loses out on her squad place. Wales are the only team that Ireland defeated in this competition last year, but the victory was hugely important in that it qualified Ireland for the Women s World Cup this summer. It also meant that Wales were the only Six Nations team to miss out on qualification, for the first time in their history, and that will give the visitors added incentive this weekend. Ireland are coming off the back of 25-10 victory over Spain and a 32-0 loss to current champions France.

Ireland team to play Wales February 25: Donnybrook: 2.30pm KO

Ireland: Joanne O Sullivan (Lichfield), Nuala Ni Chaidhan (Galwegians), Lynne Cantwell (Trojans), Patrique Kelly (UL Bohemians), Suzanne Fleming (Cooke), SarahJane Belton (c) (UL Bohemians), Tania Rosser (Blackrock), Fiona Coughlan (vc) (UL Bohemians), Jean Lonergan (Shannon),Marie Barrett (Highfield), Caroline Mahon (UL Bohemians), Germaine Healy (Blackrock), Orla Brennan (Blackrock), Rachel Boyd (Cooke), Joy Neville (Shannon)

Replacements:

Yvonne Nolan (Blackrock), Gillian McAlister (Cooke), Rosie Foley (Shannon) Sinead Ryan (Navan), Amanda Greensmith (Shannon), Louise Beamish (UL Bohemian), Grace Davitt (Blackrock)

Alison Donnelly

IWRFU Press Officer