Ireland women’s rugby coach Kevin West has named four new caps in his team to face Italy in the first 6 Nations game on Friday night.
Hooker Chris Fanning, lock Mary Louise O’Reilly, and wingers Alison Miller and Nora Stapleton will all appear in the green jersey for the first time.
Eslewhere there is the spine of a very experienced side, with captain Fiona Coghlan winning her 49th cap and the half back pairing of Tania Rosser and Joanne O’Sullivan have over 90 appearances combined.
The Ireland Women’s team are based in Ashbourne Rugby Club for their championship campaign.
The club are pulling out all the stops to support the team with buses set to ferry supporters from Dublin for the games and a big crowd expected for the floodlit games.
Ireland Women’s Captain Fiona Coghlan is looking forward to the first game and won’t be taking Italy lightly:
“With Italy you don't know from one year to the other what their game plan will be because they're further away, without much press and without a lot of news about their club games. They are the unknown.”
See here for an interview with Fiona Coghlan
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Ireland Women’s Team & Replacements (V Italy Women, RBS 6 Nations Championship, Ashbourne RFC, Friday February 5th, ko 19:30)
Niamh Briggs, Nora Stapleton, Grace Davitt,Shannon Houston, Alison Miller, Joanne O'Sullivan, Tania Rosser, Fiona Coghlan, Chris Fanning, Emer McManamly, Kate O'Loughlin, Marie Louise Reilly, Carol Staunton, Claire Molloy, Joy Neville
Replacements
Gillian Bourke, Lauren Day, Caroline Mahon, Louise Austin, Louise Beamish , Helen Brosnan, Eliza Downey
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