VODAFONE WOMEN'S INTERPROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP - ROUND 1:
Saturday, August 8 –
MUNSTER v LEINSTER, Virgin Media Park, 2.30pm (live on Spórt TG4 YouTube Channel)
Recent Interprovincial Form: Munster: LWWWW; Leinster: WWLWL
Last Five Meetings: 2023: Final: Munster 14 Leinster 33, Virgin Media Park; 2024: Munster 32 Leinster 21, Virgin Media Park; 2024: Final: Munster 7 Leinster 27, Kingspan Stadium; 2025: Leinster 22 Munster 33, Energia Park; Final: Leinster 15 Munster 50, Energia Park
Players To Watch Out For: Munster: Jane Clohessy – A big moment for Jane Clohessy as she makes her return for Munster, four months on from the re-broken arm which ruined her Six Nations hopes with Ireland.
More known as an abrasive flanker, the once-capped international switches to the second row, putting her in direct opposition with Leinster's Ruth Campbell, another very physical operator. Expect some fireworks.
Leinster: Vicky Elmes Kinlan – Wicklow star Vicky Elmes Kinlan scored a breathtaking try from Leinster's 22 when these teams met twelve months ago, and her recent Ireland Sevens form means she could hit the ground running here.
An intriguing wing battle awaits on Leeside as the 23-year-old will come up against fellow Wicklow native and her Ireland Sevens team-mate Katie Corrigan, who has swapped the blue jersey for the red of Munster.
Pre-Match Views - Maeve Óg O'Leary (Munster): "Obviously last year it was great to go and do the clean sweep, but the reality with the Interpros is that it's really a different competition every year.
"Last year we had none of our internationals, they were away with the World Cup. This year they're back. I wouldn't say pressure (as defending champions), but it's allowed up to build a really, really nice foundation."
Sarah Delaney (Leinster): "We've put in a good block (of training) for our pre-season. We've all be working hard. Really exciting year to have new coaching staff in.
"And also a nice mix of fresh faces (in the squad) and of course the internationals back, which has created a really nice environment that's competitive and then also just driving learning as well. We're all just itching to get going."
Team News: Munster's title defence begins in the familiar surroundings of Virgin Media Park, and Ireland internationals Emily Lane and Grace Moore will both make their debuts against Leinster.
Scrum half Lane's Ireland 15s and Sevens commitments mean she has not played for her native province at senior level, and Matt Brown has paired herwith fellow international Enya Breen at half-back for tomorrow's opener.
Breen did not get any game-time with Ireland during the Six Nations, so will be doubly keen to impress in marshalling a back-line that features former Leinster winger Katie Corrigan.
Alana McInerney moves into midfield for the defending champions, combining with Ireland Under-21 captain Lucia Linn. They are just two of the eight UL Bohemian representatives in the starting XV.
Moore, who has moved on from PWR club Trailfinders, joins captain Maeve Óg O'Leary and highly-rated Ennis youngster Sally Kelly, already an Ireland U-21 international, in a new-look back row unit.
The vastly-experienced Clodagh O'Halloran is set for her 28th senior Interprovincial appearance, with Jane Clohessy, who is back from surgery on her re-broken arm, her second row partner.
After winning her first four Ireland caps during the Six Nations, powerful tighthead Eilís Cahill will be eager to lay down an early-season marker, alongside Siobhán McCarthy and Beth Buttimer.
In notable additions to Munster's bench, Shannon's Tuathla Ryan is poised to win her first senior cap for the province, while Ellen Boylan, younger sister of Leinster's Maggie, is back after a year out due to an ACL injury.
Munster are bidding to become back-to-back champions for the first time since January 2023. Former captains Chloe Pearse and Nicole Cronin have been made assistant coaches, working with the forwards and backs, respectively, and on skills.
While the Munster selection shows eight changes to the side that won last year's final against Leinster in comprehensive fashion (50-15), the Blues, now coached by Sana Govender, have 11 in total.
Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Maggie Boylan, Jade Gaffney, and Navan flanker Rosie Searle are the only survivors in a much-changed team, which will be led by Sarah Delaney for the first time.
Several of the changes are down to the returning internationals, with Ireland captain Erin King and Eve Higgins two of the six debutants that Govender has included.
With the WXV Global Series coming up, the pair will hope to start the new season strongly. King will pack down at number 8, with Searle and Tullow's Róisín Kinch, an Ireland U-18 earlier this year, in the flanker roles.
Ruth Campbell and Kate Jordan provide the muscle in the second row, while Delaney's captaincy bow will see her pack down with Caoimhe Molloy and Linda Djougang either side of her.
Five Ireland 15s internationals feature in Leinster's starting back-line, the most recent new cap being full-back Robyn O'Connor, who shone during her first Six Nations with two tries in four games.
Old Belvedere duo Dannah O'Brien and Jade Gaffney take the reins at half-back, Higgins and Aoife Dalton supply the stardust in the centre, and Elmes Kinlan and Maggie Boylan, Leinster's Player of the Year for 2025, fill the wing berths.
There will be three more uncapped players on the visitors' bench - Emma Jane Wilson, Shona White, and Alex Connor. Wilson's older sister, Hannah, also provides front row cover.
Leinster have not beaten Munster since the 2024 Interpro final which they won 27-7 in Belfast. Their most recent victory at Virgin Media Park was a 33-14 title-winning triumph in September 2023.
MUNSTER: Aoife Corey; Katie Corrigan, Alana McInerney, Lucia Linn, Chisom Ugwueru; Enya Breen, Emily Lane; Siobhán McCarthy, Beth Buttimer, Eilís Cahill, Clodagh O'Halloran, Jane Clohessy, Sally Kelly, Grace Moore, Maeve Óg O'Leary (capt).
Replacements: Emma Dunican, Tuathla Ryan, Alisha Flynn, Aoibhe O'Flynn, AnnaKate Cournane, Abbie Salter-Townshend, Caitríona Finn, Ellen Boylan.
LEINSTER: Robyn O'Connor; Maggie Boylan, Aoife Dalton, Eve Higgins, Vicky Elmes Kinlan; Dannah O'Brien, Jade Gaffney; Caoimhe Molloy, Sarah Delaney (capt), Linda Djougang, Ruth Campbell, Kate Jordan, Rosie Searle, Roisín Kinch, Erin King.
Replacements: Emma Jane Wilson, Hannah Wilson, Shona White, Alma Atagamen, Aoife Corcoran, Alex Connor, Ellie O'Sullivan Sexton, Emma Tilly.
Referee: Siobhan Daly (IRFU)
Assistant Referees: John Purcell, John Moynihan (both IRFU)
VODAFONE WOMEN'S INTERPROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP - ROUND 1:
Saturday, August 8 –
ULSTER v CONNACHT, Affidea Stadium, 4.15pm (live on Spórt TG4 YouTube Channel)
Recent Interprovincial Form: Ulster: LLLLL; Connacht: WLWLW
Last Five Meetings: 2023: 3rd-4th Place Play-Off: Connacht 14 Ulster 36, Musgrave Park; 2024: Ulster 25 Connacht 25, Kingspan Stadium; 3rd-4th Place Play-Off: Ulster 19 Connacht 33, Kingspan Stadium; 2025: Connacht 12 Ulster 7, Dexcom Stadium; 3rd-4th Place Play-Off: Ulster 30 Connacht 37, Energia Park
Players To Watch Out For: Ulster: Claire Boles – An ultra efficient forward with a great engine as a dual international, Claire Boles' availability is a huge boost for Ulster as they look to get back to winning ways on home soil.
The Enniskillen woman will bring an athletic presence from the number 8 position, as well as the leadership qualities she showed with the Wolfhounds in the Celtic Challenge.
Connacht: Síofra Hession – One of the youngest players in the competition, Síofra Hession only turned 19 in June and this is the talented Galwegian's second senior Interprovincial campaign.
A promising playmaker, she made her debut against Munster last August, and has since made her first appearances for Galwegians, the Clovers, and the Ireland Under-21s. Her new centre partnership with Lyndsay Clarke has plenty of footballing ability.
Pre-Match Views - India Daley (Ulster): "We've got a young squad, they're developing. Lots of players from the NTS, they're coming through and are putting such a strong foot forward.
"We've had Claire Boles, Sadhbh (McGrath), and Fiona (Tuite) come back since the World Cup and Six Nations, and to have that experience coming in, it's really boosted the team and boosted our confidence."
Aoibheann Reilly (Connacht): "Hopefully (as internationals) we can share our expertise with the young girls. We're hoping to bring the young girls along with us and get the wins.
"We have got a lot of speed on our team this year, so we're looking to play some fast, exciting rugby. That will hopefully get us the wins, starting with this first trip to Belfast."
Team News: With India Daley ruled out through injury, Claire Boles will captain Ulster for their first round encounter with Connacht. Boles last played senior rugby for her province in 2021.
Head coach Murray Houston has included three new caps, with Ulster's reigning Young Player of the Year, Caitlin Crowe, starting at outside centre, and Amy McConkey and Leah Irwin on the bench.
The Ulster Women are out for revenge after losing twice to Connacht last season, falling short in a 12-7 defeat in Galway before a thrilling 3rd-4th place play-off in Dublin ended 37-30 in the westerners' favour.
Notably, only Siobhán Sheerin, who returns for her second Interpros, Niamh Marley, Abby Moyles, Sophie Barrett, and Moya Hill remain in the starting line-up from that most recent match.
Cooke's Katie Gilmour joins Marley and Sheerin in the back-three, Lucy Thompson forms a new centre partnership with Crowe, and Moyles has Rachael McIlroy alongside her at half-back.
The returning Sadhbh McGrath and Fiona Tuite bring plenty of international experience to the tight five, which is completed by Maebh Clenaghan, Barrett, and Rebecca Beacom.
Boles will take on the number 8 role, linking up in the loose forwards with Christy Hill, who continues to fly the flag for Ballymena RFC, and the unrelated Moya Hill.
Ulster's bench options include Ella Durkan and Ava Fannin, who both played for Blackrock College in last April's Energia All-Ireland League final, and former Connacht forward Emily Whittle.
"Connacht is always a great fixture," said Houston. "They're a team that like to keep the ball alive, keep the ball moving, so we have got to make sure we're stopping that.
"In terms of our ability, we want to carry the ball and play with excitement and adventure. So, I'm really looking forward to it.
"It's massive to have all that home support, particularly as all our players are still playing with their clubs week in, week out (during the season).
"To them it's even more important because they have that direct connect with their clubs and all the people that are coming to watch us. So, it's so important to have them here."
Meanwhile, new Connacht head coach Craig Hansberry has selected Méabh Deely at out-half in a team that contains five Ireland-capped players, including co-captains Ailish Quinn and Aoibheann Reilly.
The versatile Deely returns to Interprovincial action for the first time since 2024, alongside fellow Ballinasloe native Reilly, who is set to play for the first time since fracturing her fibula in March.
The pair will look to get the most out of an athletic back-three made up of Clara Barrett, Anna McGann, and Ava Ryder, and a new centre pairing of Síofra Hession and Lyndsay Clarke, who has moved from Munster.
Hession and Clarke are just 19 and 20, respectively, and an example of the exciting young players who have been working under Hansberry and his fellow coaches, Larissa Muldoon (attack), Fiona Hayes (defence), and Cathal Evans (backs).
Along with McGann and Clarke, Connacht have three more debutants in the pack in the form of Old Belvedere duo Kara Mulcahy and Emma Kelly, who both have the club link with Hayes, and Ballincollig prop Lily Morris.
Quinn and Jemima Adams Verling, who both turned 20 in recent months, complete the back row, and the front five also features Ella Burns, Emma Fabby, and Ireland Sevens international Faith Oviawe.
Earning her first Connacht cap from the bench will be Portarlington native Alanna Fitzpatrick, who recently won Rugby Europe Sevens Championship silverware with Ireland.
Hansberry commented: "It's been a really positive summer programme so far and we can't wait to get our Championship underway. We are fortunate to be able to select a squad full of talent.
"There's a nice mix of Ireland internationals, established members of the squad from previous years, and some exciting young players coming through the ranks.
"Starting the campaign away from home is always a challenge, especially against an Ulster side who'll be really targeting this game. But we're confident in our abilities and if we play to the level I know we're capable of, we'll be tough to beat."
ULSTER: Niamh Marley; Katie Gilmour, Caitlin Crowe, Lucy Thompson, Siobhán Sheerin; Abby Moyles, Rachael McIlroy; Sadhbh McGrath, Maebh Clenaghan, Sophie Barrett, Fiona Tuite, Rebecca Beacom, Moya Hill, Christy Hill, Claire Boles (capt).
Replacements: Emily Whittle, Sarah Roberts, Ava Fannin, Ellen Patterson, Katie Hetherington, Amy McConkey, Leah Irwin, Ella Durkan.
CONNACHT: Clara Barrett; Anna McGann, Lyndsay Clarke, Síofra Hession, Ava Ryder; Méabh Deely, Aoibheann Reilly (co-capt); Ella Burns, Kara Mulcahy, Lily Morris, Faith Oviawe, Emma Fabby, Emma Kelly, Ailish Quinn (co-capt), Jemima Adams Verling.
Replacements: Stacy Hanley, Laura Scuffil, Hannah Rapley, Olivia Tallon, Hannah Johnston, Gráinne Moran, Alanna Fitzpatrick, Emily Foley.
Referee: Mitchell Enderby (IRFU)
Assistant Referees: Alana Kerr, Glenda Mellon (both IRFU)
