EDEL MCMAHON RETURNS to the Ireland starting team for Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Wales at Virgin Media Park, [KO: 4.45pm, Virgin Media Two].
The inclusion of co-captain McMahon is the only change to the starting XV made by Ireland head coach Scott Bemand from their last outing against Italy.
McMahon returns to the back row at seven, as Aoife Wafers moves across to six.
Clíodhna Moloney is recalled to the squad and is on the bench alongside the uncapped Shannon Ikahihifo.
Moloney’s most recent appearance for Ireland came as a replacement in a home win over Japan in November, 2021 – 11 days after she compared remarks made by the IRFU’s then Director of Women’s Rugby Anthony Eddy to “slurry spreading” in a social media post.
Ireland enter Saturday’s encounter after suffering defeats away to France (38-17) and at home in the RDS to Italy (27-21), in their opening two games.
Wales are also pointless, defeated 20-18 by Scotland and 46-10 by England in their opening ties in the tournament.
The Ireland team to face Wales in Round 3 of the @Womens6Nations on Saturday in Cork! 💪 #IrishRugby #WeAreIreland
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) April 11, 2024
Ireland
- 15. Lauren Delany
- 14. Katie Corrigan
- 13. Eve Higgins
- 12. Enya Breen
- 11. Béibhinn Parsons
- 10. Dannah O’Brien
- 9. Aoibheann Reilly
- 1. Linda Djougang
- 2. Neve Jones
- 3. Christy Haney
- 4. Dorothy Wall
- 5. Sam Monaghan (co-captain)
- 6. Aoife Wafer
- 7. Edel McMahon (co-captain)
- 8. Brittany Hogan
Replacements:
- 16. Clíodhna Moloney
- 17. Niamh O’Dowd
- 18. Sadhbh McGrath
- 19. Fiona Tuite
- 20. Shannon Ikahihifo
- 21. Molly Scuffil-McCabe
- 22. Nicole Fowley
- 23. Aoife Dalton
