The Connacht Women’s management team have named their team for Saturday’s (1st September) opening inter-provincial series tie against Munster.
Jarleth Naughtons’ side will be captained by Grainne Egan who’s joined in the back row by Edel McMahon and Nichola Fryday.
Vice-captain Laura Feely starts in the front row alongside Ciara O’Connor and Annmarie O’Hora, and the pack is completed by Nicola Caldbeck and Amelie Roux in the second row.
The half-back partnership sees scrum-half Mary Healy play alongside fly-half Nicole Fowley, with Shannon Touhy and Catherine Martin named as centres. The back three sees wingers Orla Dixon and Rachel Healy alongside full-back Jill Draper.
Of course it's not just a big day for the pro team.
Best of luck to the Connacht Women in their #WomensInterpros opener v Munster (k/o 14.30 @ Irish Independent Park) & the Connacht U19s in their series opener v Leinster (k/o 13.30 @ Crowley Park) #GrassrootsToGreenShirts ☘️ pic.twitter.com/hSuookvWCz
— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) September 1, 2018
Kick-off at Irish Independent Park, Cork is at 2.30pm on Saturday, the squad’s only away game of the series with ties against Leinster (Sunday 9th September) and Ulster (Saturday 15th September) to follow at The Sportsground.
CONNACHT WOMEN STARTING XV VS MUNSTER
1. Laura Feely (vice-captain) – Galwegians
2. Ciara O’Connor – Galwegians
3. Annmarie O’Hora – Castlebar / Galwegians
4. Nicola Caldbeck – Tullow
5. Amelie Roux – Galwegians
6. Edel McMahon – Galwegians
7. Grainne Egan (captain) – Railway Union
8. Nichola Fryday – Galwegians
9. Mary Healy – Galwegians
10. Nicole Fowley – Galwegians
11. Orla Dixon – NUIG
12. Shannon Touhy – Galwegians
13. Catherine Martin – Suttonians
14. Rachel Healy – Railway Union
15. Jill Draper – Tullamore
Replacements:
- Moya Griffin – Tullamore
- Elizabeth McNicholas –Tuam
- Julia Bauer – Suttonians
- Denise Redmond – Galwegians
- Tara Buggie – NUIG
- Shannen Lane – Galwegians
- Hilary Griffin – Tullow
- Mairead Coyne – Galwegians
