Bemand names Ireland side for Six Nations opener against Twickenham 

Ireland captain Erin King. Pic: Ben Brady/Inpho

Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has named his starting 15 for Saturday's opening Guinness Women's Six Nations clash against England at Twickenham (Kick-off, 2.25pm).

Captain Erin King will lead Ireland into the 2026 Championship in London, with Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald set to reach the milestone of 50 Test caps, while uncapped prop Eilís Cahill and scrum-half Katie Whelan are in line for their debut appearances in green off the replacements bench.

Stacey Flood starts at full-back, with Béibhinn Parsons and Vicky Elmes Kinlan on the wings for Ireland. Eve Higgins and Aoife Dalton are selected in midfield, as Emily Lane and Dannah O'Brien link up in the half backs at scrum-half and out-half respectively.

In the pack, Ellena Perry, Moloney-MacDonald and Linda Djougang are Ireland's starting front row.

Dorothy Wall and Fiona Tuite make up Ireland's second row on Saturday, with Brittany Hogan at blindside flanker, captain King at openside and Aoife Wafer packing down at number eight.

Bemand has an exciting mix of youth and experience among his replacements, with Neve Jones, Niamh O'Dowd, Ruth Campbell and Grace Moore joined by the debutant Cahill - who has impressed recently for the Clovers in the Celtic Challenge - as the forward reinforcements.

There is also a potential first cap for replacement scrum-half Whelan, who has previously been capped for Ireland Women's Sevens on the HSBC SVNS Series, while Nancy McGillivray and Anna McGann complete Bemand's matchday 23.

Sam Monaghan and Aoibheann Reilly were ruled out of selection through injury.

Ireland: Stacey Flood; Béibhinn Parsons, Aoife Dalton, Eve Higgins, Vicky Elmes Kinlan; Dannah O’Brien, Emily Lane; Ellena Perry, Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald, Linda Djougang; Dorothy Wall, Fiona Tuite; Brittany Hogan, Erin King (capt), Aoife Wafer.

Replacements: Neve Jones, Niamh O’Dowd, Eilís Cahill, Ruth Campbell, Grace Moore, Katie Whelan, Nancy McGillivray, Anna McGann.