Adams Verling will make Ireland debut against USA

Jemima Adams Verling during an Ireland Women rugby training at the IRFU High Performance Centre at the Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

 

Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has included uncapped Jemima Adams Verling in his side for Sunday’s Vodafone Ireland WXV Series opener against USA at Tallaght Stadium (Kick-off 1.45pm).

The 20-year-old Connacht player will make her Test debut at blindside flanker alongside captain Erin King and Aoife Wafer.

The flanker starred for Ireland at the U18 Women’s Six Nations Festival in 2024 and during last season’s U21 Women's Six Nations Series, scoring against England and Wales as Ireland completed a clean sweep of victories during the campaign.

Adams Verling, who was included in last year’s extended Guinness Women’s Six Nations squad after impressing for the Clovers in the Celtic Challenge, enjoyed another standout campaign for Connacht in the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship.

The Ireland backline sees Stacey Flood start at full-back, with Robyn O’Connor and Vicky Elmes Kinlan named on the wings. Aoife Dalton and Eve Higgins are selected in midfield, while Dannah O’Brien starts at out-half alongside Emily Lane at scrum-half.

Up front, Niamh O’Dowd and Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald are joined by Linda Djougang in the front row, with Dorothy Wall and Fiona Tuite-O’Sullivan in the second row. King is joined in the back row by debutant Adams Verling and Wafer.

Neve Jones, Sadhbh McGrath, Eilís Cahill, Jane Clohessy and Brittany Hogan are the forward replacements available to Bemand, with backs Aoibheann Reilly, Anna McGann and Niamh Gallagher completing Ireland’s 23.

Sunday’s fixture - live on TG4 Player and YouTube - is the first of three home matches for Ireland during this Autumn block as they face Japan in the Vodafone Ireland WXV Series at Dexcom Stadium on Saturday, 27 September, before a standalone Test against Japan at Virgin Media Park in Cork on Saturday, 3 October.

IRELAND: Stacey Flood (Leinster), Robyn O’Connor (Leinster), Aoife Dalton (Leinster), Eve Higgins (Leinster), Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Leinster), Dannah O’Brien (Leinster), Emily Lane (Munster); Niamh O’Dowd (Gloucester-Hartpury), Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs), Linda Djougang (Leinster), Dorothy Wall (Exeter Chiefs), Fiona Tuite-O'Sullivan (Ulster), Jemima Adams Verling (Connacht), Erin King (Leinster, capt), Aoife Wafer (Harlequins) REPLACEMENTS: Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), Sadhbh McGrath (Ulster), Eilís Cahill (Munster), Jane Clohessy (Munster), Brittany Hogan (Sale Sharks), Aoibheann Reilly (Connacht), Anna McGann (Connacht), Niamh Gallagher (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby)