Head Coach Scott Bemand has named his matchday squad for Ireland’s first Rugby World Cup warm-up game against Scotland in Virgin Media Park this Saturday, August 2nd at 2 pm.
There are 4 Connacht players involved, including three in the starting team. Méabh Deely lines out at full-back. Beibhinn Parsons on the wing and Ivana Kiripati from Creggs makes her first start at No 7, with Ballina's Ailish Quinn among the replacements. Sam Monaghan returns to captain the side after a lengthy lay-off following an ACL injury sustained in the PWR final in June 2024. Bemand has handed debuts to Ivana Kiripati in the back row, Nancy McGillivray in the centre, with Ailish Quinn primed to make her debut from the bench. In the pack, Siobhán McCarthy, Kilconly native Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald and Sadhbh McGrath are in the front row. Eimear Corri-Fallon, also returning after nearly 12 months out, joins Monaghan in the engine room, and Grace Moore, Kiripati, and Brittany Hogan make up the back row. In the backs, Molly Scuffil-McCabe starts at scrum half with Dannah O’Brien at out half. Eve Higgins partners McGillivray in the centre with Amee Leigh Costigan and the returning Béibhinn Parsons on the wings. Neve Jones, Niamh O’Dowd, Linda Djougang, Fiona Tuite, Deirbhile Nic a Bháird and Ailish Quinn are the forwards available to Bemand and his Coaching Team on a strong bench, with backs Emily Lane and Enya Breen completing Ireland’s 23.
Speaking about the team selection, Bemand says: “This is the first real opportunity for players to put their hands up for World Cup selection, and that’s brought great intensity to our work in camp. We’ve seen real growth in this group since we assembled at the start of June, and now it’s about transferring that onto the pitch. There’s a lot of competition for places, which is exactly what we want heading into a major tournament. Scotland are a quality side, and our recent encounters have all been tight, physical battles — that’s the kind of test we need as we build towards the Rugby World Cup.”
Ireland Team & Replacements (v Scotland, Saturday, August 2, Virgin Media Park, 2pm)
15. Méabh Deely (Ballinasloe RFC/Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)(13)
14. Béibhinn Parsons (Ballinasloe RFC/Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)(26)
13. Nancy McGillivray (Exeter Chiefs)*
12. Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)(26)
11. Amee-Leigh Costigan (Railway Union RFC/Munster)(18) Vice-Captain
10. Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(24)
9. Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Manawatū RFC/Leinster)(21)
1. Siobhán McCarthy (Railway Union RFC/Munster)(8)
2. Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs)(43)
3. Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster)(14)
4. Eimear Corri-Fallon (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)(4)
5. Sam Monaghan (Gloucester Hartpury/IQ Rugby)(21) Captain
6. Grace Moore (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby)(20)
7. Ivana Kiripati (Creggs RFC/Connacht)*
8. Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)(32)
Replacements
16. Neve Jones (Gloucester Hartpury)(35)
17. Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(15)
18. Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(46)
19. Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)(15)
20. Deirbhile Nic a Bháird (Old Belvedere RFC/Munster)(11)
21. Ailish Quinn (Ballina RFC/Galwegians RFC/Connacht)*
22. Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC)(15)
23. Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)(29)
