4 Connacht Women in Irish Rugby Squad for Spain clash

Ireland Women’s Head Coach Scott Bemand has named his Match Day Squad for Saturday’s final round of the WXV3 against Spain at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai (Kick-off 5 pm local time/2 pm Irish time). Bemand’s side have recorded two impressive wins against Kazakhstan and Colombia in the opening rounds of the campaign in Dubai, with Saturday’s showdown against Spain set to determine the overall winners of the inaugural WXV3 title. Regional qualifiers in 2024 will decide the identity of the three European teams to play in WXV2, but there is plenty to play this weekend. Ireland head into the final round on top of the standings, a point ahead of Spain and a points difference of +131. Ireland, therefore, only need to avoid defeat in Dubai to claim the first-ever WXV 3 title. There are four Connacht players included in the squad – Méabh Deely at full-back and Béibhinn Parsons on the wing, as well as Aoibheann Reilly and Nicole Fowley among the replacements.

Ireland Women v Spain:

15. Méabh Deely (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)(9)
14. Natasja Behan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)(9)
13. Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)(11)
12. Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(9)
11. Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)(20)
10. Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) (9)
9. Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)(11)

1. Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(31)
2. Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury)(20)
3. Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)(12)
4. Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)(22)
5. Sam Monaghan (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ Rugby)(captain)(17)
6. Grace Moore (Saracens/IQ Rugby)(12)
7. Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs)(captain)(23)
8. Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)(17)

Replacements:

16. Clara Nielson (Exeter Chiefs)(4)
17. Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) (2)
18. Sadhbh McGrath (MU Barnhall RFC/Cooke RFC/Ulster)(7)
19. Eimear Corri (Blackrock RFC/Leinster)(2)
20. Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster) (1)
21. Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)(6)
22. Nicole Fowley (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)(9)
23. Leah Tarpey (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)(3).