Six debutants named in Ireland women’s rugby squad

Ireland coach Tom Tierney has handed six players their senior international debuts for Saturday’s autumn international against England.

Jeamie Deacon and Mairead Coyne are selected on the wings with Aine Donnelly in the centre while Cliodhna Moloney comes into the front row with Elaine Anthony and Ciara Cooney named in the second row.

Tierney said: “We are looking forward to the game this weekend. It’s the first time we have played an autumn international which is another step in the development of women’s rugby. We have an opportunity to take a look at some new players and combinations building towards the Six Nations.”

The game will be played at The Stoop, and kicks-off at 3pm.

England suffered an 11-0 defeat to France last weekend in their first autumn international, played in Martigues.

The last time Ireland met England was in the Six Nations last March.

Ireland claimed a narrow win in Ashbourne, as captain Niamh Briggs slotted a last-minute penalty to snatch victory as Ireland went on to claim the Six Nations crown.

IRELAND (v England):

N Briggs (UL Bohemian/Munster) Capt, J Deacon (Blackrock/Leinster),* A Donnelly (Cill Dara/Leinster),* J Shiels (Richmond/ Exiles), M Coyne (Galwegians/Connacht),* S Naoupu (Galwegians/Connacht), LMuldoon (Skewen/ Exile), R O’Reilly (Galwegians/Connacht), C Moloney (Railway Union/Leinster),* A Egan (Old Belvedere/ Leinster), E Anthony (Highfield/Munster),* C Cooney (Galwegians/Connacht),* S Spence (Old Belvedere/ Leinster), P Fitzpatrick (Stade Toulousain), H O’Brien (Stade Toulousain).

Replacements:

Z Grattage (Tralee/Munster),* F Reidy (UL Bohemian/Munster), F O’Brien (Old Belvedere/Leinster), K Norris (Blackrock/Leinster), L Peat (Railway Union/Leinster),* M Healy (Galwegians/ Connacht),* N Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), C McLaughlin (Queens University/Ulster)*.

*Denotes uncapped player at this level.

England squad:

B Blackburn (Worcester), R Burnfield (Richmond), L Cattell (Saracens), C Clapp (Saracens), R Clarke (Worcester), A Cokayne (Lichfield), V Cornborough (Richmond), E Croker (Richmond), H Gallagher (Saracens), S Hunter (Bristol), L Keates (Worcester), C Large (Worcester), R Laybourn (DMP), J Lucas (Lichfield), R Lund (Worcester), K Mason (Bristol), L Mason (DMP), S Mckenna (Saracens), H Millar-Mills (Lichfield), I Noel-Smith (Bristol), M Packer (Wasps), A Reed (Bristol), L Riley (Richmond), A Scott (DMP), E Scott (Thurrock), T Taylor (DMP).