Bemand names Ireland side for visit of Wales to Belfast

Ireland head coach Scott Bemand. Pic: Ben Brady/Inpho

Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has named his starting 15 for Saturday's Guinness Women's Six Nations clash against Wales at Affidea Stadium (kick-off 6.30pm).

Ireland conclude their 2026 Championship with back-to-back home fixtures, starting with Saturday's visit of Wales to Belfast.

Bemand has named an unchanged back-three of Stacey Flood, Béibhinn Parsons and Robyn O'Connor, as Eve Higgins comes in to link up with Aoife Dalton in midfield, while in the half-backs, Emily Lane and Dannah O'Brien are selected at scrum-half and out-half, respectively.

Up front, Ellena Perry, Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald and Linda Djougang pack down together, with Dorothy Wall and Fiona Tuite in the engine room and Brittany Hogan, captain Erin King and Aoife Wafer in the back-row.

Bemand has named uncapped back Niamh Gallagher among the replacements following her impressive performances for Ireland U21s in recent weeks.

Neve Jones, Sadhbh McGrath, Eilís Cahill, Ruth Campbell, Sam Monaghan and Grace Moore are the forwards on Ireland's bench, with backs Katie Whelan and Gallagher completing the matchday 23.

Ireland: S Flood; B Parsons, A Dalton, E Higgins, R O’Connor; D O’Brien, E Lane; E Perry, C Moloney‑MacDonald, L Djougang; D Wall, F Tuite; B Hogan, E King, A Wafer.

Replacements: N Jones, S McGrath, E Cahill, R Campbell, S Monaghan, G Moore, K Whelan, N Gallagher.