Ireland's Aoife Dalton is tackled by France's Lina Queyroi during this year's Guinness Women's Six Nations Championship at Stade Marie-Marvingt, Le Mans,. Photo: INPHO/Ben Brady (IRFU).

Dalton in Ireland rugby team for clash with England

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Clara native Aoife Dalton has been named in the Ireland team for their Women's Six Nations meeting with England at Twickenham on Saturday, kick-off 2.15pm.

Dalton was introduced as a substitute in the 54th minute of last Saturday's comprehensive victory over Wales (36-5) at Virgin Media Park (previously known as Musgrave Park). She has been selected to start at inside centre for the clash with England and will be partnered by Eve Higgins.

A former Tullamore RFC player, Dalton now plays for Old Belvedere RFC and Leinster and has made a rapid rise through the ranks in recent years.

The other change to the Ireland starting XV from the Wales match sees Hannah O’Connor come into the second row.

After a respectable showing when losing to France, and a frustrating defeat to Italy in the second round, Ireland produced a fine display against the Welsh amid sunny conditions in Cork.

It was Ireland's first Six Nations victory in two years and the manner of the win is a major boost for the squad and head coach Scott Bemand ahead of this weekend’s daunting clash against reigning Six Nations champions England.

Speaking ahead of the England game, Bemand said: “We get another chance to perform as a group, in a great stadium with a big crowd. We are building some momentum in training and games. This is the kind of test we want, against the best out there.”

Saturday’s match against England will be televised live on Virgin Media. Ireland will play Scotland in their final Six Nations game on Saturday, April 27 at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast.

Ireland women’s rugby team vs England:

15. Lauren Delany (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby)

14. Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)

13. Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC)

12. Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)

11. Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)

10. Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)

9. Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)

1. Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)

2. Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury)

3. Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)

4. Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)

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

6. Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)

7. Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs), Captain

8. Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster).

Replacements:

16. Clíodhna Moloney (Exeter Chiefs)

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

18. Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster)

19. Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)

20. Shannon Ikahihifo (Ealing Trailfinders/IQ Rugby)

21. Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Leinster)

22. Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)

23. Méabh Deely (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht).

Kieran Galvin
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