Ireland announce team and new captain for Six Nations opener against France

Ireland Head Coach Scott Bemand has named the match day squad for Saturday's Guinness Women's Six Nations opener against France at Kingspan Stadium.

Having previously led Ireland Sevens on the HSBC SVNS Series, Olympian Amee-Leigh Costigan has been named as captain, with three-time Premiership Women's Rugby champion with Gloucester-Hartpury Neve Jones named as vice captain with squad captain Edel McMahon among the replacements.

Stacey Flood, Anna McGann and Costigan are named in the Ireland back three, with Eve Higgins and Aoife Dalton in the centres, while Emily Lane starts at scrum-half to partner Dannah O'Brien in the half backs.

In the pack, Niamh O'Dowd, Neve Jones and Linda Djougang start in the front row, with Ruth Campbell, who makes her Six Nations debut, and Dorothy Wall in the second row.

Brittany Hogan is at blindside flanker, Erin King - the World Rugby Women's Breakthrough Player of the Year - makes her Six Nations debut at openside and Aoife Wafer completes Ireland's starting team at number eight.

Cliodhna Moloney, Siobhan McCarthy, Christy Haney, Grace Moore, Fiona Tuite and squad captain McMahon provide the forward reinforcements, while Aoibheann Reilly and Enya Breen are the backline replacements.

Speaking to the IRFU ahead of the match, Bemand said: "We are really excited to get our 2025 season underway in front of our home crowd in Belfast this Saturday, and no better challenge to start with than the visit of a very talented France side.

"Building on from our WXV1 campaign last Autumn, we're now focused on producing a performance this Saturday and showcasing further growth and evolution in our game at the start of a very exciting year for Irish Rugby."

Ireland team to face France:

15. Stacey Flood

14. Anna McGann

13. Aoife Dalton

12. Eve Higgins

11. Amee-Leigh Costigan (captain)

10. Dannah O’Brien

9. Emily Lane

1. Niamh O’Dowd

2. Neve Jones (vice-captain)

3. Linda Djougang

4. Ruth Campbell

5. Dorothy Wall

6. Brittany Hogan

7. Erin King

8. Aoife Wafer

Replacements:

16. Cliodhna Moloney

17. Siobhán McCarthy

18. Christy Haney

19. Grace Moore

20. Fiona Tuite

21. Edel McMahon

22. Aoibheann Reilly

23. Enya Breen