Issued on behalf of The Irish Rugby Football Union

The Ireland Women’s team to play Scotland Women in Ashbourne RFC on Friday, March 9th (kick off 19:30) has been named.

There is one change to the starting XV with Paula Fitzpatrick making her first start of the championship in the front row between Fiona Coghlan and Ailis Egan.

Gillian Bouke moves to the replacements. The experienced Shannon Houston has also been recalled to the squad and is named on the replacements bench.

Ireland are third in the Women’s Championship following a five try win over Italy, a single point loss to France and a six try victory over Wales last weekend.

Ireland Women’s Coach Philip Doyle said “The win over Wales was fantastic and we enjoyed it but next day the focus switched to Scotland. We have put ourselves in a good position and the girls are playing some great rugby”.

“This week has been about fine tuning things and again the commitment in training has been excellent”.

Ireland Women v Scotland Women (Ashbourne RFC, Co. Meath - Friday 9th March 2012, Kick-off 7.30pm)
15 - Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
14 - Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians/Munster)
13 - Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster)
12 - Grace Davitt (Cooke/Ulster)
11 - Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Highfield/Connacht)
10 - Lynne Cantwell (Exile)
9 - Amy Davis (Blackrock/Leinster)
1 - Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster) (capt)
2 - Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
3 - Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
4 - Sophie Spence (Exile)
5 - Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
6 - Laura Guest (Highfield/Munster)
7 - Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht)
8 - Joy Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster)

Replacements:
16 - Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster)
17 - Ruth O'Reilly (Galwegians/Connacht)
18 - Siobhan Fleming (Tralee/Munster)
19 - Heather O'Brien (Highfield/Munster)
20 - Larissa Muldoon (Exile/UWIC/Ulster)
21 - Shannon Houston (Blackrock College/Leinster)
22 - Jennifer Murphy (Exile)

Ireland Women's 2012 Fixtures
Friday, March 9 - Ireland Women v Scotland Women, Ashbourne RFC, 7.30pm
Saturday, March 17 - England Women v Ireland Women, Esher RFC, 2pm

For further information contact:
Maria Boland, IRFU Communications Department
E-mail: maria.boland@irfu.ie
Phone: +353 (0)1 6473828/ +353 (0)87 7645327