Ireland head coach Bemand defends capping two ex-England players on eve of World Cup

World Rugby regulations deem that players are allowed to swap allegiances if they haven’t been fielded for three years.

Ireland's Ellena Perry. Pic: Ben Brady/Inpho

Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has explained the reasoning behind his decision to hand auditions to two former England players on the eve of a Women’s Rugby World Cup that kicks off across the Irish Sea in a matter of weeks.

Nancy McGillivray, who had been under contract to the English union and part of their development pathway until June, made her Test debut in green against Scotland in Cork last week and the centre marked the occasion with one of the team’s five tries.