Sadhbh McGrath has been passed fit to take part in Ireland’s inaugural WXV 1 campaign, but head coach Scott Bemand will be without fellow prop Christy Haney in Canada.
Sadhbh McGrath has been passed fit to take part in Ireland’s inaugural WXV 1 campaign, but head coach Scott Bemand will be without fellow prop Christy Haney in Canada.
The expansion of the competition from eight rounds to ten provides vital preparation for Irish, Scottish, and Welsh players ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.
The Irish embarrassingly lost out 10-88 at Twickenham against the defending champions and the reaction for this Saturday’s third-place decider at home to Scotland in Belfast has been to alter two back, one forward, and also include an uncapped player on the bench.
The Irish snapped their recent championship losing streak with a commanding 36-5 win last weekend over Wales in Cork and they now head to London with one change to the back line and another to their pack.
The restoration of co-captain Edel McMahon in place of the absent Grace Moore is the only starting team alteration as Bemand has opted to keep faith with the players he chose to take on the Italians.
Italy got their first win in the 2024 Women's Six Nations as they saw off an Irish comeback to take the 27-21 victory in round two.
The Irish clinched WXV3 title success in Dubai in their last outing, coming from behind to defeat Spain 15-13 on October 28 and round off that tournament with a three-game winning streak.