Five Munster Players In Ireland Women’s Squad

Head Coach Adam Griggs has named the Ireland Women’s team to take on Wales in the third round of the Women’s Six Nations in Donnybrook Stadium this Sunday.

Five Munster players have been included in the squad with Ciara Griffin captaining the side from the back row, Leah Lyons in the front row and Niamh Briggs at out-half. Fiona Reidy and Nicole Cronin are among the replacements.

Griggs has made four changes to the side that overcame Italy 21-8 in their last match a fortnight ago.

Ciara O’Connor and Lyons, who both featured off the bench in the opening rounds of the tournament, start alongside Lindsey Peat in the front row.

Nichola Fryday is partnered in the second row by Orla Fitzsimons.

Paula Fitzpatrick moves to Number 8 to accommodate the change while captain Griffin moves to the blindside. Claire Molloy completes the back-row trio.

There is one change in the backline with Claire McLaughlin starting for the injured Alison Miller alongside Megan Williams and Kim Flood.

Sene Naoupu and Katie Fitzhenry are again named at centre with Ailsa Hughes and Briggs in the half-backs.

Both Briggs and Molloy will receive their 60th international cap.

Speaking ahead of the game, Head Coach, Griggs said “We got a good boost after the win over Italy a fortnight ago. We did what we wanted to, played with tempo and moved the ball. While the performance was far from perfect, we set a marker down for the rest of the campaign.

“We now head into a tough test on Sunday against the Welsh. We are looking to rectify some of the areas of our game that we haven’t been happy with over the past few weeks and if we can make those small changes, it should be a great one.

“Having the crowd behind us against Italy really spurred us on, so we’re hoping to see another big turnout of fans on Sunday in Donnybrook.”

Tickets for the Ireland Women’s home games in Donnybrook are available now via www.ticketmaster.ie.

The IRFU is offering a bus subsidy of up to 400 euro per club for private transport hire. For more information on the bus subsidy for the 2018 Women’s Six Nations, contact womensrugby@irfu.ie before purchasing tickets.

Ireland Women Team & Replacements (v Wales, 2018 Womens 6 Nations Championship, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin, Sunday, February 25th, kick-off 3pm)

15 – Kim Flood (Railway Union/Leinster)

14 – Megan Williams (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

13 – Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock College/Leinster)

12 – Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

11 – Claire McLaughlin (Cooke/Ulster)

10 – Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemian/Munster)

9 – Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster)

1 – Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster)

2 – Ciara O’Connor (Galwegians/Connacht)

3 – Leah Lyons (Highfield/Munster)

4- Orla Fitzsimons (St Mary’s/Leinster)

5 – Nichola Fryday (Tullamore/Connacht)

6 – Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemian/Munster) Captain

7 – Claire Molloy (Bristol)

8 – Paula Fitzpatrick (St Mary’s/Leinster)

Replacements

16- Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union/Leinster)

17 – Laura Feely (Galweigians/Connacht)

18 – Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemian/Munster)

19 – Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/Leinster)

20 – Edel McMahon (Galwegians/Connacht)

21 – Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemians/Munster)

22 – Michelle Claffey (Blackrock College/Leinster)

23 – Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

Ireland Women’s Six Nations Fixtures 2018

Saturday 3rd February 2018

France Women 24 v 0 Ireland Women

Sunday 11th February 2018

Ireland Women 21 v 8 Italy Women, 1pm, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin

Sunday 25th February 2018

Ireland Women v Wales Women, 3pm, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin

Sunday 11th March 2018

Ireland Women v Scotland Women, 1pm, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin

Friday 16th March 2016

England Women v Ireland Women, 5.30pm, Ricoh Arena, Coventry