Coughlan skippers new-look Ireland

FIONA COUGHLAN skippers Ireland in Sunday’s Six Nations Championship opener against Italy in Rovigo (1.30pm Irish time).

Lauren Day, who missed the Women’s Rugby World Cup through injury, is back in the team and partners Coughlan and Gillian Bourke in the front row.

Carol Staunton and Claire Molloy will pack down in the back row either side of dynamic number eight Joy Neville.

Nora Stapleton, who made her debut against the Italians last year moves from the wing to out-half where she has been playing for her club side Old Belvedere. She will be partnered in the half backs by Blackrock’s Amy Davis.

The experienced Lynne Cantwell is joined in the centre by Geraldine Rea. Niamh Briggs will again assume the kicking duties from full-back with UL Bohemians wingers Mairead Kelly and Niamh Kavanagh complete the back three.

IRELAND: N Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster), N Kavanagh (UL Bohemians/Munster), L Cantwell (Richmond/Exile), G Rea (Highfield/Munster), M Kelly (UL Bohemians/Munster), N Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), A Davis (Blackrock/Leinster), F Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster, capt), G Bourke (Bristol/Munster), L Day (Waterloo/Ulster), M Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster), L Guest (Highfield/Munster), C Staunton (Galwegians/Connacht), C Molloy (Bristol/Connacht), J Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster).

Replacements: S Kennedy (City of Derry/Ulster), E McManamly (Blackrock/Leinster), D O’Brien (Blackrock/Leinster), H O’Brien (Highfield/Munster), L Muldoon (UWIC/Exile), G Nolan (St. Mary’s/Leinster), J Shiels (Richmond/Leinster).