Ireland Team Named For Canada Match

Head Coach Scott Bemand has named his matchday squad for Ireland’s last Rugby World Cup warm up game against Canada in Affidea Stadium on Saturday August 9th at 12pm.

Bemand has made 10 changes to the starting line up from the win over Scotland last weekend. Neve Jones will Co-Captain the side with Sam Monaghan who starts this week on the bench.

In the pack, Niamh O’Dowd and Linda Djougang join Jones in the front row. Fiona Tuite and Ruth Campbell make up the engine room and last week’s backrow of Grace Moore, Ivana Kiripati and Brittany Hogan remains unchanged.

In the backs Aoibheann Reilly starts at scrum half with Dannah O’Brien again at out half. Enya Breen partners Aoife Dalton in the centre with Anna McGann and Béibhinn Parsons on the wings.

Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald, Ellena Perry, Sadhbh McGrath, Eimear Corri-Fallon, Monaghan and Claire Boles are the forwards available to Bemand and his Coaching Team on a strong bench, with backs Emily Lane and Eve Higgins completing Ireland’s 23.

Perry, who qualifies for Ireland through her maternal grandfather, has previously won 11 caps for England. She was last capped in 2020 and is eligible for Ireland under World Rugby rules.

Speaking about the team selection, Bemand says:

“Having another opportunity to test ourselves is essential in the run up to the Rugby World Cup and we know Canada will provide us with a really strong test. Last week we fought back hard from conceding early tries and we know we will need to start stronger this week. There is a lot at stake with the squad for the Rugby World Cup being announced early next week.”

Where To Watch

Ireland v Canada will be streamed for free on IrishRugby+ in the Republic of Ireland.

NI & UK – BBC iPlayer
Canada – TSN
Rest of the World – RugbyPass TV

Ireland Women’s Team & Replacements (V Canada, Saturday, August 9, Affidea Stadium, 12pm)

15 Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC / Leinster) (19)
14 Beibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College / Connacht) (27)
13 Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere /Leinster) (23)
12 Enya Breen (Blackrock College / Munster) (30)
11 Anna McGann (Railway Union / Connacht) (10)
10 Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere /Leinster) (25)
9 Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College / Connacht) (15)

1 Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere /Leinster) (16)
2 Neve Jones (Gloucester Hartpury (36) (Co-Captain)
3 Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere /Leinster) (47)
4 Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere /Leinster) (7)
5 Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere /Ulster) (16)
6 Grace Moore (Trailfinders / IQ Rugby) (21)
7 Ivana Kiripati (Creggs / Connacht) (1)
8 Brittany Hogan  (Old Belvedere /Ulster) (33) (Vice Captain)

Replacements:
16 Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs) (44)
17 Ellena Perry (Gloucester Hartpury / IQ Rugby)*
18 Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke / Ulster) (15)
19 Eimear Corri Fallon (Blackrock College / Leinster) (5)
20 Sam Monaghan (Co-Captain) (Gloucester Hartpury / IQ Rugby) (22)
21 Claire Boles (Railway Union / Ulster) (5)
22 Emily Lane (Blackrock College / Ulster) (16)
23 Eve Higgins (Railway Union / Leinster) (27)

*Denotes uncapped player

Affidea Stadium is the new name for what was formerly known as Kingspan Stadium