Six Munster Players Named For Ireland World Cup Opener

Head Coach Philip Doyle has named an experienced Ireland squad to face USA in tomorrow’s World Cup opener at Marcoussis, France (kick off 4pm Irish time).

All six travelling Munster players have been selected in the match day 22 which sees Munster captain Heather O’Brien named in the starting line-up along with fellow back-row forward Siobhán Fleming from Tralee.

Gillian Bourke takes the hooker position and joins fellow UL Bohemian player Niamh Briggs who starts at full-back.

Munster forwards Laura Guest (Highfield) and Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemian) have both been named in the replacements.

Ireland are currently ranked 7th in the world and are vying for their first World Cup title since they entered the competition in 1995.

The USA are ranked two places ahead in 5th, and in 1991 historically claimed the first ever World Cup title with a 19-6 victory over hosts England.

Both teams have met on five previous occasions with Ireland recording its only victory over the Americans at their last encounter during the 2010 World Cup.

Speaking of his selection, Doyle said "The team selection was a difficult one, we are in a very lucky position of having a strong squad to pick from.”

"The atmosphere has been building up in camp all week and it's time to go, the players can't wait to get out on the pitch and get the campaign started.”

This game will be televised live on TG4 or you can follow all Women's Rugby World Cup updates on #WRWC2014

To tweet your message of support for the Ireland Women you can use the hashtag #shouldertoshoulder ahead of their Pool B matches where they face USA, Kazakstan and defending champions New Zealand.

Ireland Women's Team

15. Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster)
14. Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
13. Lynne Cantwell (Richmond RFC/Exile)
12. Grace Davitt (Cooke/Ulster)
11. Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht)
10. Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
9. Tania Rosser (Blackrock/Leinster)
1. Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster)
2. Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster)
3. Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
4. Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
5. Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
6. Siobhan Fleming (Tralee/Munster)
7. Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht)
8. Heather O'Brien (Highfield RFC/Munster)

Replacements:
16. Sharon Lynch (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
17. Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians/Munster)
18. Laura Guest (Highfield/Munster)
19. Paula Fitzpatrick (St Mary's College/Leinster)
20. Larissa Muldoon (Bristol/Exile)
21. Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
22. Jackie Shiels (Richmond RFC/Exile)

2014 WOMEN'S RUGBY WORLD CUP:
POOL B FIXTURES –

Friday, August 1

IRELAND v USA, Marcoussis pitch 2, 5pm local time/4pm Irish time
Tuesday, August 5
New Zealand v IRELAND, Marcoussis pitch 1, 6pm local time/5pm Irish time
Saturday, August 9
IRELAND v Kazakhstan, Marcoussis pitch 2, 1pm local time/12pm Irish time