Three Chiefs Women to start for Ireland against France

Three Exeter Chiefs Women have been selected to start for Ireland against France in the next round of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations.

Nancy McGillivray, Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald and Dorothy Wall will all feature in the starting line-up as they embark on a re-match of the Rugby World Cup quarter-final held at Sandy Park.

Ireland were devastated not to progress that day amid controversial on-field circumstances.

Now they have the chance to challenge for victory at the Stade Marcel Michelin as they face an unbeaten France.

Exeter Chiefs Women’s head coach Steve Salvin said: “Cli was determined to compete for a starting spot in this tournament and she has made three out of three. She is playing with all the maturity and physicality that we expect from her.

“We wish her, Doro and Nancy the best of luck against France. I know they were disappointed with their last result against them, so this is chance to heal some of those wounds and put in a determined performance in Clermont-Ferrand.”

This game will be broadcast live on BBC iPlayer.

Ireland

15 Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC/Leinster, 26 caps)
14 Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht, 33 caps)
13 Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster, 30 caps)
12 Nancy McGillivray (Exeter Chiefs/IQ Rugby), 5 caps)
11 Robyn O’Connor (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster, 1 cap)
10 Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster, 32 caps)
9 Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC/Munster, 22 caps)
1 Ellena Perry (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ Rugby, 6 caps)
2 Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 51 caps)
3 Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster, 54 caps)
4 Dorothy Wall (Exeter Chiefs, 39 caps)
5 Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster, 22 caps)
6 Brittany Hogan (Sale Sharks, 40 caps)
7 Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster, 9 caps) (c)
8 Aoife Wafer (Harlequins, 18 caps)

Replacements:
16 Neve Jones (Gloucester Hartpury, 42 caps)
17 Niamh O’Dowd (Gloucester Hartpury, 21 caps)
18 Eilís Cahill (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster, 1 cap)
19 Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster, 14 caps)
20 Sam Monaghan (Gloucester Hartpury/IQ Rugby, 28 caps)
21 Katie Whelan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster, 2 caps)
22 Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC/Leinster, 34 caps)
23 Anna McGann (Railway Union RFC/Connacht, 16 caps)