Scotland vs Ireland team news ahead of Six Nations final round

Ireland travel to Edinburgh looking to cement back-to-back third-place finishes in the Women’s Six Nations.

Last weekend’s Player of the Match in Ireland’s win over Wales, Aoife Wafer, has been ruled out due to a knee issue.

For Scotland, captain Rachel Malcolm and Leia Brebner-Holden return from following return to play concussion protocols to slot back into the starting XV.

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

Scott Bemand has handed a Test debut to Aoife Corey, who impressed for the Clovers in Celtic Challenge, at full-back, with a potential first cap also on the cards for Jane Clohessy.

Bryan Easson has put out a front row of Leah Bartlett, Lana Skeldon, and Elliann Clarke to go up against Ireland’s Niamh O’Dowd, Neve Jones, and Linda Djougang.

Jade Konkel moves to the Scotland second row from last week’s start at number eight and will partner with Harlequins teammate Sarah Bonar, while Ruth Campbell and Fiona Tuite start in the engine room for Ireland.

Malcolm starts at blindside flanker with Rachel McLachlan taking her place on the openside, with Evie Gallagher moving to number eight. With Wafer unavailable, Bemand has opted for Brittany Hogan at number eight, with Dorothy Wall and captain Edel McMahon as flankers.

Brebner-Holden starts at scrum-half for Scotland, with vice-captain Helen Nelson once again pulling the strings in the number 10 jersey. Molly Scuffil-McCabe and Dannah O’Brien retain their respective positions for Ireland following last weekend’s 40-14 victory at Rodney Parade.

Both teams have named unchanged midfield partnerships; Lisa Thomson and Emma Orr starting for Scotland, and Enya Breen and Aoife Dalton for Ireland.

Scotland’s back three also retain their positions after last weekend’s 59-7 loss to England, which sees Francesca McGhie and Rhona Lloyd start on the wings and Chloe Rollie at full-back. Ireland debutant Corey will be joined in the back three by Amee-Leigh Costigan and Vicky Elmes Kinlan, who earns her first Six Nations start.

Fixture

Womens Six Nations

Scotland Women

26 - 19

Full-time

Ireland Women

All Stats and Data

Scotland have lost 15 of their last 17 Women’s Six Nations matches against this weekend’s opposition – but their last win was the last time they played them at home in the competition in 2023.

Victory for Ireland would see them win three matches in the competition for the first time since 2020, and they have won their previous two away fixtures this year by a combined total of 68
points.

Scotland and Ireland teams for Round 5 of the Women’s Six Nations, Hive Stadium, 26 April. KO 14:30 BST

Scotland:

15. Chloe Rollie – Trailfinders Women (74 caps)
14. Rhona Lloyd – Les Lionnes du Stade Bordelais (56)
13. Emma Orr – Bristol Bears (28)
12. Lisa Thomson – Trailfinders Women (68)
11. Francesca McGhie – Leicester Tigers (21)
10. Helen Nelson – Loughborough Lightning (69) (VICE-CAPTAIN)
9. Leia Brebner-Holden – Loughborough Lightning (8)
1. Leah Bartlett – Leicester Tigers (42)
2. Lana Skeldon – Bristol Bears (78)
3. Elliann Clarke – Bristol Bears (19)
4. Jade Konkel – Harlequins (70)
5. Sarah Bonar – Harlequins (46)
6. Rachel Malcolm (captain) – Unattached (55)
7. Rachel McLachlan – Montpellier (50)
8. Evie Gallagher – Bristol Bears (34)

Replacements

16. Elis Martin – Loughborough Lightning (19)
17. Anne Young – Loughborough Lightning (19)
18. Molly Poolman –Edinburgh Rugby/Watsonian FC (3)
19. Becky Boyd – Loughborough Lightning (3)
20. Gemma Bell – Glouster Hartpury/Hartpury University (1)
21. Rhea Clarke – Edinburgh Rugby/University of Edinburgh (1)
22. Evie Wills -Leicester Tigers (4)
23. Lucia Scott – Gloucester-Hartpury/Hartpury University (4)

Ireland:

15. Aoife Corey (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)
14. Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC)(3 caps)
13. Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(22)
12. Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)(28)
11. Amee-Leigh Costigan Railway Union RFC/Munster)(17)
10. Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(23)
9. Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Leinster)(21)
1. Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(14)
2. Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury)(34)
3. Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(45)
4. Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(6)
5. Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)(14)
6. Dorothy Wall (Exeter Chiefs/Munster)(36)
7. Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht)(33)(captain)
8. Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)(31)

Replacements:
16. Cliodhna Moloney (Exeter Chiefs)(42)
17. Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster)(14)
18. Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)(23)
19. Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)*
20. Claire Boles (Railway Union RFC/Ulster)(4)
21. Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC)(14)
22. Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC)(25)
23. Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC)(18)