Six Nations Women’s Summer Series: Scotland U-20s v Ireland U-20s

A second win at the Six Nations Women’s Summer Series would represent an ideal finish to the season for the Ireland Under-20s (sponsored by PwC). Scotland are their final round opponents in Ystrad Mynach – catch the action live from 1pm on irishrugby+.

SIX NATIONS WOMEN’S SUMMER SERIES – ROUND 3:

Thursday, July 17 –

SCOTLAND UNDER-20s v IRELAND UNDER-20s, Centre of Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach, kick-off 1pm (live on irishrugby+)

Team News: Ireland Under-20 head coach Niamh Briggs has made ten personnel changes for their final Summer Series match. Captain Jane Neill moves to openside flanker for her third positional switch in as many rounds.

Ennis starlet Lyndsay Clarke, who has been included in Munster’s senior squad, returns to the team at full-back, having played in the centre against Wales. Wicklow’s Clara Dunne makes her first start in midfield, alongside Lucia Linn.

Ballina native Emily Foley slots in on the left wing for her first start, and there is also a fresh half-back pairing in Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton and May Goulding, who take over from Caitríona Finn and Jade Gaffney respectively.

Gráinne Burke, Maebh Clenaghan, and Lily Morris form an all-new front row trio, while Connacht’s Beibhinn Gleeson joins Alma Atagamen in a new-look combination at lock.

Navan’s Rosie Searle is brought in for her first start, following an appearance off the bench against Wales during the opening round. The impressive Neill and Jemima Adams Verling feature again, having started the 29-10 win over Wales, and the 41-12 defeat to France.

Sally Kelly, another of the talented crop of youngsters involved with Ennis Rugby Club, is poised to make her Ireland U-20 debut as a replacement. A promising back rower, she played for Ireland at the Under-18 Women’s Six Nations Festival in England earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Scotland U-20 boss Louise Dalgliesh hands the captaincy reins to Glasgow Warriors prop Poppy Fletcher, as she makes five changes to the team that lost 52-29 to Wales.

Scotland recovered from a slow start to score four tries during the final 43 minutes against Wales, so will be hoping to back up that second-half performance when they play Ireland for the second time at this level.

Megan Hyland and Gemma Thomson, two more of the Glasgow Warriors contingent, will make their first starts of the Summer Series in the tight five. Called up to Scotland’s extended Six Nations squad in 2024, back rower Merryn Gunderson is a bright prospect.

Loughborough University’s Lily Crisp gets the nod at openside flanker, while Edinburgh’s Emily Love gets her first start at half-back, alongside Ceitidh Ainsworth.

Coming on in the left wing, Freya MacColl is rewarded for her two-try performance off the bench against the Welsh.

Six Nations Summer Series Fixtures/Results

SCOTLAND U-20: Poppy Mellanby (Biggar RFC/Glasgow Warriors), Emily Norval (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors), Nicole Flynn (University of Edinburgh/Glasgow Warriors), Lucy MacRae (University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh Rugby), Freya MacColl (Loughborough University/Loughborough Lightning); Ceitidh Ainsworth (Stirling County RFC/Glasgow Warriors), Emily Love (Corstorphine Cougars/Edinburgh Rugby); Poppy Fletcher (University of Edinburgh/Glasgow Warriors) (capt), Megan Hyland (Garioch/Glasgow Warriors), Eilidh Fleming (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors), Aisha Zameer (Hillhead Jordanhill/Glasgow Warriors), Gemma Thomson (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors), Merryn Gunderson (Corstorphine Cougars/Edinburgh Rugby), Lily Crisp (Loughborough University), Emily Coubrough (University of Edinburgh/Glasgow Warriors).

Replacements: Karis Craig (Watsonian FC/Edinburgh Rugby), Louise Taperell (West of Scotland), Megan Riach (Garioch/Edinburgh Rugby), Holly Wilson (Biggar RFC), Sophie Price (Hillhead Jordanhill/Glasgow Warriors), Rebekah Douglas (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors), Holly McIntyre (University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh Rugby), Lisa Brown (University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh Rugby).

IRELAND U-20: Lyndsay Clarke (Ennis RFC/Munster); Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Clara Dunne (Wicklow RFC/Leinster), Lucia Linn (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Emily Foley (Galwegians RFC/Connacht); Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), May Goulding (Old Albanian Saints/Saracens/IQ Rugby); Gráinne Burke (Ennis RFC/Munster), Maebh Clenaghan (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Lily Morris (Ballincollig RFC/Munster), Alma Atagamen (Balbriggan RFC/Leinster), Beibhinn Gleeson (Tuam/Oughterard RFC/ Connacht), Rosie Searle (Navan RFC/Leinster), Jane Neill (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) (capt), Jemima Adams Verling (Creggs RFC/Connacht).

Replacements: Saoirse Crowe (Shannon RFC/Munster), Ella Burns (Tuam/Oughterard RFC/Connacht), Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen RFC/Ulster), Aoibhe O’Flynn (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Sally Kelly (Ennis RFC/Munster), Caitríona Finn (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Tara O’Neill (Cooke RFC/Ulster), Robyn O’Connor (Wexford Wanderers RFC/Leinster).

Referee: Emily Hope (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Alice Torra (FIR), Josh Sealey (WRU)
TMO: Jenny Davies (WRU)

Previous Six Nations Women’s Summer Series Results –

2024 – Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma, Italy

Round 1: France 57 Wales 12; England 33 Ireland 10; Italy 17 Scotland 13

Round 2: Ireland 17 Italy 24; Scotland 10 France 67; Wales 24 England 55

Round 3: Ireland 37 Scotland 7; Italy 33 Wales 19; England 21 France 72

2025 – Centre of Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly Wales

Round 1: France 46 Italy 5; Wales 10 Ireland 29; England 31 Scotland 17

Round 2: Italy 20 England 36; Ireland 12 France 41; Scotland 29 Wales 52

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