Griffin And Kavanagh To Start Against England

Ireland Women’s Head Coach Tom Tierney has named the Ireland Women’s side to face England Women at 2pm this Sunday in the UCD Bowl with Munster Ciara Griffin and Niamh Kavanagh both in the starting XV.  

It will be the first of three November Series games for the Ireland Women (the others will see Ireland face Canada on Saturday the 19th and New Zealand on the 27th).

Tierney is without some of his more experienced players this weekend due to injuries. Captain Niamh Briggs is one of those sidelined as she continues to rehab an injured hamstring injury she picked up in a recent club game, however he has named an exciting squad with one new cap in the starting 15, and two more new caps on the bench.

Nicole Fowley of Galwegians will win her first cap as she partners Sene Naoupu in the centres, while forwards Leah Lyons (Highfield) and Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemians) will be looking to win their first Ireland caps from the bench on Sunday.

In the front row, loose-head prop Lindsay Peat will make her first start for Ireland, winning her 5th cap in the process and she will be joined by Railway Union team-mate Cliodhna Moloney at hooker and old Belvedere's Ailis Egan at tight-head.

In the second-row, the experienced Marie–Louise Reilly is joined by Orla Fitzsimons.

The back-row is made up of Ciara Griffin, Claire Molloy and Paula Fitzpatrick. St.Mary's back-row Fitzpatrick willl captain the side in Briggs' absence.

In the backs, the experienced half-back partnership of scrum-half Larissa Muldoon and out-half Nora Stapleton are joined by centres Naoupu and Fowley.

The back-three will see Galwegians' Mairead Coyne wear the number 15 jersey, with Ireland Sevens winger Alison Miller and UL Bohemians' Niamh Kavanagh on the wings.

In the replacements, Munster forwards Leah Lyons (Highfield) and Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemians) will be looking to win their first Ireland caps if they are called upon. They are joined on the substitutes bench by Munster team-mates Fiona Hayes and Fiona Reidy, as well as Katie Norris from Blackrock College RFC.

The replacement backs consist of scrum-half Mary Healy, out-half Nikki Caughey and utility back Jackie Shiels.

Speaking about Ireland's first game in the November Series, Tierney said: “This weekend marks the first game of what is arguably going to be the biggest season in the history of Ireland's Women's Rugby.

“The Women's Rugby World Cup is now less than nine months away, and while there a lot of rugby to be played between now and then, the players are very eager to run out at UCD this Sunday and get things underway in our first ever November Series.

“We're without some of our more experienced players this weekend, but this gives other members of the squad the opportunity to develop their game and get some much needed experience themselves.

“Starting this weekend, we'll play three games in three weeks against some very competitive opposition and this is important as we prepare for the pool games of the World Cup in UCD.”

Ireland Women v England Women, 2pm, Sunday 13th November 2016, UCD Bowl
1. Lindsay Peat (Railway Union / Leinster)
2. Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union / Leinster)
3. Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
4. Maire-Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
5. Orla Fitzsimons (St. Mary's / Leinster)
6. Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians / Munster)
7. Claire Molloy (Bristol / Connacht)
8. Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary's / Leinster) Captain
9. Larissa Muldoon (Railway Union)
10. Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
11. Alison Miller (Old Belvedere / Connacht)
12. Sene Naoupu (Aylesford Bulls)
13. Nicole Fowley (Galwegians / Connacht)*
14. Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians / Munster)
15. Mairead Coyne (Galwegians / Connacht)

Replacements
16. Leah Lyons (Highfield / Munster)*
17. Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians / Munster)
18. Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians / Munster)
19. Katie Norris (Blackrock College / Leinster)
20. Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemians / Munster)*
21. Mary Healy (Galwegians / Connacht)
22. Nikki Caughey (Railway Union / Ulster)
23. Jackie Shiels (Old Belvedere / Leinster)

*Denotes uncapped

This Sunday's game will be streamed live via Irish Rugby TV on the Irish Rugby YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/user/IrishRugbyTVOfficial.

Tickets for the Women's November Series are on sale at: www.ticketmaster.ie/womensrugby.

Women's November Series Fixtures:
Sunday, November 13:
Ireland Women v England Women, UCD Bowl, 2pm

Saturday, November 19:
Ireland Women v Canada Women, UCD Bowl, 2pm

Wednesday, November 23:
Canada Women v New Zealand Women, Donnybrook, 1pm

Sunday, November 27:
Ireland Women v New Zealand Women, UCD Bowl, 2pm

Next August, Ireland will host the Women's Rugby World Cup. For more information visit www.irishrugby.ie/Ireland2017.