3 Munster Players Named For Six Nations Opener

Ireland Women’s Coach Tom Tierney has announced his first RBS 6 Nations team for the 2015 Championship opener against Italy in Florence on Friday night.

Three Munster players are named in the squad with Niamh Briggs captaining the side from full-back and Heather O'Brien starting at no.8.

Fiona Hayes is named on the bench with former Munster player Gillian Bourke starting in the front row.

There are six uncapped players named in the match day squad – Leinster's Hannah Tyrrell will make her debut on the wing while Sarah Mimnagh, Fiona O'Brien, Katie Norris, Katie Fitzhenry and Sene Naoupu have been named on the bench.

Up front, Bourke is named at hooker and will be joined by Ruth O'Reilly and Ailis Egan in the front row. A familiar look second row sees Marie Louise Reilly and Sophie Spence take position. Paula Fitzpatrick, Claire Molloy and O'Brien complete the pack.

Larissa Muldoon is named at scrum half and will be partnered at 10 by Nora Stapleton. Jackie Shiels and Jenny Murphy make up the centre partnership, with Alison Miller joining Tyrrell on the wing.

Ireland Coach, Tom Tierney said "There is a natural changeover with the number of players retiring after last season, but there is a core group of senior players that are very experienced and talented. We also have a number of younger players who are very talented and have a lot of promise so it's a good mix”

"It's going to be a very tough game over in Italy, we are under no illusions, but we are going over there very confident that we will be competitive”

This game will be streamed live on www.Federugby.it and www.youtube.com/fedrugby

Ireland Women's Side To Face Italy (Stadio Mario Lodigiani – Kick-off 19.00hrs local, 18.00hrs GMT):

15 – Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemian/ Munster) (Capt) 45
14 – Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 0
13 – Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 17
12 – Jackie Shiels (Richmond/Exiles) 12
11 – Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht) 22
10 – Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 28
9 – Larissa Muldoon (Skewen RFC) 24

1 – Ruth O'Reilly (Galwegians/Connacht) 3
2 – Gillian Bourke (Olympico de Pozuelo RFC) 46
3 – Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 22
4 – Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 34
5 – Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 20
6 – Paula Fitzpatrick (St Marys/Leinster) 12
7 – Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht) 36
8 – Heather O'Brien (Highfield/Munster) 17

Replacements

16 – Sarah Mimnagh (Wasps/Exiles) 0
17 – Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemian/Munster) 5
18 – Fiona O'Brien (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 0
19 – Orla Fitzsimons (St Marys/Leinster) 2
20 – Katie Norris (Blackrock/Leinster) 0
21 – Tania Rosser (Blackrock/Leinster) 53
22 – Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock/Leinster) 0
23 – Sene Naoupu (Galwegians/Connacht) 0

RBS 6 Nations Ireland Women's Fixtures

Friday, February 6
Italy v Ireland, 6pm, Stadio Mario Lodigiani

Friday, February 13
Ireland v France, 7:30pm, Ashbourne RFC

Friday, February 27
Ireland v England, 7:30pm, Ashbourne RFC

Sunday, March 15
Wales v Ireland, Noon, Swansea RFC

Sunday, March 22
Scotland v Ireland, 1pm, Broadwood Stadium