Briggs Leads Ireland Into England Clash

The Ireland Women’s team to play England on Friday night in the RBS Women’s 6 Nations has been named.

Captain Niamh Briggs starts at full-back with her Munster team-mate Heather O'Brien at no. 8.

Head Coach Tom Tierney has made a single change to the team that lost out 10-5 to their French counterparts in the last outing of the tournament a fortnight ago.

Hannah Tyrrell comes back into the starting XV having completed her return to play protocols.She is joined by Alison Miller on the opposite wing and captain Briggs at full back.

Jenny Murphy and Katie Fitzhenry make up the centre pairing while Nora Stapleton and Larissa Muldoon are named in the halfbacks.

Up front, Ruth O'Reilly, Gillian Bourke and Ailis Egan form the front row with Sophie Spence and Marie Louise Reilly named in the second row.

Paula Fitzpatrick, Claire Molloy and Highfield's O'Brien complete the pack.

Speaking ahead of the fixture, Tierney said: "England are a formidable opposition, they are the world champions and we are under no illusions about the strength of this side. Training has gone well and look forward to playing back in front of a home side.

"It was a disappointing loss against France, but there were some positives to take out of it. We have dusted ourselves off and are ready for the next challenge”

Ireland Women's Team To Face England

15 – Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemian/ Munster) (Capt)
14 – Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/ Leinster)
13 – Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/ Leinster)
12 – Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock/ Leinster)
11 – Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht)
10 – Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/ Leinster)
9 – Larissa Muldoon (Skewen RFC)

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

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

RBS 6 Nations Ireland Women's Fixtures and Results

Friday, February 6
Italy 5 – 30 Ireland, Stadio Mario Lodigiani

Friday, February 13
Ireland 5 – 10 France, 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