Guinness Women’s Six Nations: Ireland v Italy

A first win of the 2026 Championship is the aim for both Ireland and Italy as they face off in a historic Guinness Women’s Six Nations match at Dexcom Stadium, where the attendance could reach upwards of 9,000.

2026 GUINNESS WOMEN’S SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 2:

Saturday, April 18 –

IRELAND (5th) v ITALY (6th), Dexcom Stadium, 5.40pm (live Virgin Media One/Virgin Media Play/BBC iPlayer/Sky Sport Arena Italia/RTÉ Radio 1/BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra/BBC Sounds)

Coming To The Match? Here’s All You Need To Know For Ireland v Italy At Dexcom Stadium

Team News: Following last weekend’s opener in London, Ireland return home for their first ever Championship outing in Galway, with the Clan Stand now sold out as ticket sales pass the 8,500 mark. In a double header, the Ireland Under-21s will get the action underway at 2.20pm.

Erin King leads the side into the round 2 encounter with Italy, as Leinster winger Robyn O’Connor is named in Scott Bemand’s starting team for her debut appearance in green.

O’Connor is joined in the Ireland back three by Stacey Flood at full-back and Béibhinn Parsons on the right wing, with Nancy McGillivray partnering Aoife Dalton in midfield.

There is an unchanged half-back pairing for Ireland as Emily Lane and Dannah O’Brien link up once again.

In the pack, Ellena Perry, Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald and Linda Djougang are selected in the front row, with Ruth Campbell coming into the side to join Fiona Tuite in Ireland’s engine room, while the back row of Brittany Hogan, captain King and Aoife Wafer remaining unchanged.

Bemand has experienced options on the bench to call upon as Neve Jones, Niamh O’Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath, Dorothy Wall, and the fit-again Sam Monaghan provide the forward replacements, while backs Katie Whelan, Eve Higgins, and Anna McGann complete the matchday 23.

Meanwhile, Italy head coach Fabio Roselli has made five changes in personnel, as his charges look to bounce back from a 40-7 loss to France in Grenoble last Saturday.

Veteran Sofia Stefan reunites with Emma Stevanin to direct the Azzurre attack. In the back-three, Gaia Buso earns her first Championship start after impressing with a try off the bench at the Stade des Alpes; she joins the established pair of Aura Muzzo and Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi.

The midfield remains unchanged, with the dangerous Alyssa D’Incà partnering Sara Mannini, the reigning MVP of the 2025/2026 Women’s Elite Serie A.

Up front, the back row is anchored by captain Elisa Giordano alongside Alissa Ranuccini and Francesca Sgorbini. In the engine room, Elettra Costantini – the player-of-the-match in the recent Italian domestic final between Valsugana and Villorba – is handed her first start following her debut last week. She will partner the experienced Valeria Fedrighi.

There is a change at prop as Silvia Turani, who was forced off early on against les Bleues, moves to the bench. She is replaced in the starting XV by Gaia Maris, with Vittoria Vecchini at hooker and Alessia Pilani at tighthead.

Guinness Women’s Six Nations Results/Fixtures

Guinness Women’s Six Nations Table

IRELAND: Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC/Leinster); Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht), Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Nancy McGillivray (Exeter Chiefs/IQ Rugby), Robyn O’Connor (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster); Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC/Munster) Ellena Perry (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ Rugby), Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster), Brittany Hogan (Sale Sharks), Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) (capt), Aoife Wafer (Harlequins).

Replacements: Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), Niamh O’Dowd (Gloucester-Hartpury), Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster), Dorothy Wall (Exeter Chiefs), Sam Monaghan (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ Rugby), Katie Whelan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC/Leinster), Anna McGann (Railway Union RFC/Connacht).

ITALY: Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi (Valsugana Rugby Padova); Gaia Buso (Villorba Rugby), Alyssa d’Inca (Blagnac Rugby), Sara Mannini (Rugby Colorno), Aura Muzzo (LOU Rugby); Emma Stevanin (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Sofia Stefan (RCTPM Toulon); Gaia Maris (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Vittoria Vecchini (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Alessia Pilani (Stade Bordelais Rugby), Valeria Fedrighi (Rugby Colorno), Elettra Costantini (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Francesca Sgorbini (ASM Clermont Rugby), Alissa Ranuccini (LOU Rugby), Elisa Giordano (Valsugana Rugby Padova) (capt).

Replacements: Chiara Cheli (Rugby Colorno), Silvia Turani (Harlequins), Vittoria Zanette (LOU Rugby), Giordana Duca (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Beatrice Veronese (RCTPM Toulon), Alia Bitonci (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Veronica Madia (Blagnac Rugby), Michela Sillari (Valsugana Rugby Padova).

Referee: Ella Goldsmith (RA)
Assistant Referees: Ben Connor (WRU), Rebecca Piddlesden (RFU)
TMO: Graham Cooper (RA)
FPRO: Finlay Brown (SRU)

Pre-Match Quotes: Fiona Tuite (Ireland) –

We are targeting home wins, and I think playing in Galway now is going to be class as well in the new stadium. It’s phenomenal. Our real focus this week is starting fast.

“We gave England some really easy ‘ins’ last week, knock-ons, lineout errors, little things that are totally controllable by us, and we’re cutting them out this week. We just focus on us.

“It’s been a really tough training week. Bodies start to get tired obviously, as this competition goes on, and (we’re) really excited now for Italy.’

“He’s been brilliant, (new forwards coach) Al (O’Connor) is class. Obviously, I knew him through Ulster already, but he’s a phenomenal player. He’s come in with a really, really good attitude and has fit in seamlessly. He just says, ‘Go at everything as hard as you can’.

“It’s exactly how he played, that grit and grind is a key part of his game, but he’s brought a really nice element to the lineout where he really just gets it. I don’t think you’d have it if you hadn’t played in the modern game, if that makes sense.”

Nancy McGillivray (Ireland) –

I’ve learned so much from Eve and Dalto. We work really well together, we’re always helping each other and I think it’s just good competition between us three (centres) now.

We’re always pushing each other, they’re always pushing me and telling me, just teaching me what they see as well. So yeah, I think us three get along really well and it’s actually really nice having them around.

“It’s just the connections on the pitch. When you don’t play with people that much week in, week out, sometimes it’s just reading people’s cues. So for example, playing with Dannah (O’Brien) is very different to playing with a different 10.

“So, understanding her cues and maybe when she’s looking to kick. It’s trying to read someone better and just working with different players on the pitch. Just building those connections. But they do come quickly when you train as much as we do.”

Pre-Match Links –

Opta Facts: Guinness Women’s Six Nations – Ireland v Italy

‘We Want To Showcase What The Group’s About’ – Steenson

Parsons: It’s A Happy Moment Bringing Green Wave Out West

‘Robyn Has Fully Earned Her Opportunity’ – Bemand

Bemand Urges Ireland To ‘Get On The Front Foot Early’

King: Playing In Front Of Our Home Support Is Really Special To Us

Recent Meetings –

2023: TikTok Women’s Six Nations: Italy 24 Ireland 7, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma

2024: Guinness Women’s Six Nations: Ireland 21 Italy 27, RDS Arena

2025: Guinness Women’s Six Nations: Italy 12 Ireland 54, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma

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