Aoife Dalton with her Young Player of the Year award at the 2023 Rugby Players Ireland Awards. Photo: INPHO/IRFU.

Offaly player in Ireland team for Six Nations opener

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Aoife Dalton has been named in the Ireland rugby team for this Saturday’s Guinness Women’s Six Nations opener clash against France, in Stade Marie-Marvingt (kick-off 2.15pm Irish time).

Clara native Dalton, who plays for Old Belvedere and Leinster, has been selected at inside centre and will be partnered by Eve Higgins. Dalton is a former Tullamore RFC player.

Aoibheann Reilly from Moore, close to Shannnonbridge, and Béibhinn Parsons from Ballinasloe are also part of the starting team (see team list below).

Back row forward Edel McMahon will captain the side, with co-captain Sam Monaghan continuing her return to play protocols. Katie Corrigan (19) will make her international debut on the wing, having impressed the coaching team during the recent Celtic Challenge competition.

Ireland head coach Scott Bemand said the whole squad is "very excited" to get their campaign underway.

"We have had a good block of preparation with players returning and we are ready to compete. I’m looking forward to seeing all the hard work come together on Saturday and what a place to kick start our Six Nations, in Stade Marie-Marvingt," he said.

Saturday’s match will be shown live on RTÉ.

Ireland team (vs France, Saturday, March 23)

15. Lauren Delany (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby)

14. Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

13. Eve Higgins (Railway Union/Leinster)

12. Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

11. Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College/Connacht)

10. Nicole Fowley (Galwegians/Connacht)

9. Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College/Connacht)

1. Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

2. Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury)

3. Christy Haney Blackrock College/Leinster)

4. Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College/Munster)

5. Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock College/Leinster)

6. Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College/Leinster)

7. Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs) Captain

8. Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere /Ulster).

Replacements:

16. Sarah Delaney (Blackrock College/Leinster)

17. Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

18. Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke/Ulster)

19. Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere/Ulster)

20. Grace Moore (Saracens/IQ Rugby)

21. Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Leinster)

22. Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

23. Méabh Deely (Blackrock College/Connacht).

Kieran Galvin
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