Women’s Rugby: Ireland Team to Play Canada Announced
The Ireland women’s team to play Canada in Galway this weekend has been announced. The starting line-up includes one new cap with Armagh and Ulster back Christine Robb being named on the wing.
…Sarah-jane Belton and Tania Rosser will feature on the Ireland team to play Canada at the weekend…
The Ireland women’s team to play Canada in Galway this weekend has been announced.
The starting line-up includes one new cap with Armagh and Ulster back Christine Robb being named on the wing.
The only other new face is Munster fullback Jeanette Feighery who is named on the bench.
The game against this year’s World Cup hosts will be the first time the Sportsground has hosted a women’s international test.
The match will be one of the few outings remaining for the country’s top players to stake claims to travel to the World Cup this summer, which is being hosted by the Canadian city of Edmonton from August 31 to September 17.
Ireland will face France, the United States and South Africa in the pool stages.
Canada finished fourth at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups and are seeded fourth this year.
Ireland captain Sarahjane Belton said:
We are expecting Canada to be a very physical side, much like the challenge we faced when we played the USA earlier this year. We have had a break since the Six Nations and there are a few changes to the team so it may take us a little to settle in but there is huge pressure on everyone now to stake a claim for a place in the World Cup squad so every player will be up for it.
Ireland v Canada, Sportsground, Galway, Sunday April 30, 2pm.
IRELAND:
Amanda Greensmith (Shannon), Grace Davitt (Blackrock), Lynne Cantwell (Trojans), Patrique Kelly (UL Bohemians), Christine Robb (Armagh), Sarah Jane Belton (UL Bohemians) (capt), Tania Rosser (Blackrock); Fiona Coughlan (UL Bohemians) (vice-capt), Jean Lonergan (Shannon), Gillian McAllister (Cooke), Caroline Mahon (UL Bohemians), Germaine Healy (Blackrock), Orla Brennan (Blackrock), Rachel Boyd (Cooke), Joy Neville (Shannon).
Replacements from: Yvonne Nolan (Blackrock), Marie Barrett (Highfield), Eimear O’Sullivan (Clonakilty), Sinead Ryan (Navan), Louise Beamish (UL Bohemian), Nuala Ni Chadhain (Galwegians), Joanne O’Sullivan (Lichfield), Jeannette Feighery (UL Bohemian), Suzanne Fleming (Cooke)