Chiefs duo in Ireland Women's squad

By Mark Stevens
30/3/23

Exeter Chiefs hooker Clara Nielson could make her International debut this Saturday after being named in the Ireland Women’s squad to face France Women in their latest Six Nations Championship encounter in Cork (3:15pm).

Nielson - who is joined in the squad by club-mate and skipper Nichola Fryday -is one of two uncapped players named on the Irish bench by head coach Greg McWilliams, who has also made five changes to his starting line-up from that which was defeated in their opening fixture by Wales a week ago.

Vicky Irwin and Dannah O’Brien are selected to start in the Ireland back-line, with Christy Haney, Grace Moore and Deirbhile Nic a Bháird all brought into the pack. Nielson and Kathryn Buggy come into the matchday squad and are in line to make their Ireland debuts off the bench.

The Ireland back-three remains unchanged with Méabh Deely continuing at full-back and Aoife Doyle and Natasja Behan named on the wings. With Enya Green ruled out through injury, Armagh native Irwin comes into the midfield to partner Aoife Dalton.

Talented Tullow teenager O’Brien (19) is promoted off the bench to make her first Six Nations start at out-half. Her Leinster team-mate Molly Scuffil-McCabe is retained at scrum half.

Up front, Linda Djougang switches to loosehead prop to pack down alongside Neve Jones and Haney. Fryday and Sam Monaghan make up the second row pairing, with Dorothy Wall joined in the back row by Moore at openside flanker and Nic a Bháird at No.8.

McWilliams said: “Last week was a disappointing start to the campaign for us but we turned the page quickly and were honest with ourselves. We know this journey is going to take time and require patience, and we are working hard as a group to learn those lessons and make positive progress every time we step on the field.”

IRELAND WOMEN TO FACE FRANCE WOMEN

15. Méabh Deely (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht) 3
14. Aoife Doyle (Railway Union RFC/Munster) 13
13. Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) 3
12. Vicky Irwin (Sale Sharks/Ulster) 2
11. Natasja Behan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster) 3
10. Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) 3
9. Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Railway Union RFC/Leinster) 5
1. Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) 25
2. Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury/Ulster) 14
3. Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster) 6
4. Nichola Fryday (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht) (capt) 30
5. Sam Monaghan (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ Rugby) 11
6. Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College RFC/Munster) 17
7. Grace Moore (Saracens/IQ Rugby) 6
8. Deirbhile Nic a Bháird (Old Belvedere RFC/Munster) 5

16. Clara Nielson (Exeter Chiefs/IQ Rugby) *
17. Sadhbh McGrath (City of Derry RFC/Cooke RFC/Ulster) 11
18. Kathryn Buggy (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ Rugby) *
19. Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster) 15
20. Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster) 11
21. Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster) 22
22. Anna McGann (Railway Union RFC/Connacht) 2
23. Lauren Delany (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby) 18

* Denotes uncapped player