Aoife Dalton in action during a training session with the Ireland squad. Photo: IRFU/INPHO.

Offaly trio to start for Ireland against Italy

Kieran Galvin

Published: Thu 13 Apr 2023, 2:31 PM

Last updated: Thu 13 Apr 2023, 2:32 PM

Three players from Offaly have been selected to start for Ireland in the Women's Six Nations clash with Italy on Saturday in Parma (kick-off 4.45pm).

Kilcormac native Nichola Fryday will once again captain the team from the second row, while Aoife Dalton from Clara will make her fifth appearance in the centre.

Fellow Offaly woman Ailsa Hughes has been selected at scrum-half for her first appearance of the championship, partnering her Leinster team-mate Dannah O'Brien at out-half.

Ireland head coach Greg McWilliams has made three changes to the starting XV for the Round 3 clash at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi. Lauren Delany, Anna McGann from Athlone and Hughes have all been drafted into the Ireland backline.

Commenting ahead of the game, McWilliams said: "It has been a really good block of preparation for this game. We arrived in Parma yesterday afternoon following three days of hard work in Dublin, and the group have come back focused and energised after the down week.

"Saturday will be another stiff challenge for us against a side that reached the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup, but again it is one we are relishing as a group as it gives us the opportunity to continue our development in the Test arena."

Ireland have endured a very difficult start to their Six Nations campaign, having suffered heavy defeats to Wales in Cardiff and France in Musgrave Park.

Saturday's match against Italy will be shown live on Virgin Media Two.

Ireland team v Italy (TikTok Women's Six Nations)

15. Lauren Delany (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby)

14. Aoife Doyle (Railway Union RFC/Munster)

13. Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)

12. Anna McGann (Railway Union RFC/Connacht)

11. Natasja Behan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)

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

9. Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)

1. Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)

2. Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury/Ulster)

3. Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)

4. Nichola Fryday (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht) (captain)

5. Sam Monaghan (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ Rugby)

6. Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)

7. Grace Moore (Saracens/IQ Rugby)

8. Deirbhile Nic a Bháird (Old Belvedere RFC/Munster).

Replacements: 16. Clara Nielson (Exeter Chiefs/IQ Rugby), 17. Sadhbh McGrath (City of Derry RFC/Cooke RFC/Ulster), 18. Kathryn Buggy (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ Rugby), 19. Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), 20. Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster), 21. Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Railway Union RFC/Leinster), 22. Vicky Irwin (Sale Sharks/Ulster), 23. Méabh Deely (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht).