New Caps For Kavanagh and Rea

Munster’s Niamh Kavanagh and Geraldine Rea have both been named in the starting backline to face Italy on Sunday in Rovigo, ko 2.30pm (1.30pm Irish time).

Winger Niamh Kavanagh and first centre Geraldine Rea are two uncapped players named in the starting XV and they will have a wealth of experience to call on with Ireland's most capped player Lynne Cantwell on their shoulder and UL Boh's Niamh Briggs supporting at fullback.

Highfield's Heather O'Brien is one of five uncapped players named on the replacements.

A positional change for Laura Guest sees her starting in the second row alongside Leinster's Marie Louise Reilly, while Gillian Bourke starts at hooker and the influential Joy Neville is named at 8.

Ireland Women v Italy Women:

15. Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster)
14. Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians/Munster) *
13. Lynne Cantwell (Richmond/Exile)
12. Geraldine Rea (Highfield/Munster) *
11. Mairead Kelly (UL Bohemians/Munster)
10. Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
9. Amy Davis (Blackrock/Leinster)
1. Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster) Captain
2. Gillian Bourke (Bristol/Munster)
3. Lauren Day (Waterloo/Ulster)
4. Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
5. Laura Guest (Highfield/Munster)
6. Carol Staunton (Galwegians/Connacht)
7. Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht)
8. Joy Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster)

Replacements:
16. Stacey Kennedy (City of Derry/Ulster) *
17. Emer McManamly (Blackrock/Leinster)
18. Deirdre O'Brien (Blackrock/Leinster) *
19. Heather O'Brien (Highfield/Munster) *
20. Larissa Muldoon (UWIC/Exile) *
21. Gill Nolan (St. Mary's/Leinster) *
22. Jackie Shiels (Richmond/Leinster)