Ellena Perry on swapping Red Roses for Ireland: 'I thought 'I can't turn this down'

Perry qualifies via her maternal grandfather, William Foster, who hailed from Derry, and she spoke fondly on Thursday before the squad flew to England of how her mum would tune into Ireland’s Six Nations game down the years.

TOO GOOD TO TURN DOWN: Former England prop Ellena Perry has described the opportunity to line out for Ireland as too good an opportunity to turn down ahead of her adopted nation’s Rugby World Cup campaign in the country of her birth. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Former England prop Ellena Perry has described the opportunity to line out for Ireland as too good an opportunity to turn down ahead of her adopted nation’s Rugby World Cup campaign in the country of her birth.

The 28-year old made her debut in green last Saturday in the warm-up game against Canada in Belfast having featured eleven times previously for the Red Roses, and has since been named in the 32-strong squad for the upcoming tournament.