Ireland Six Nations Team to face Italy includes debut for Wexford player

31 March 2026; Robyn O’Connor during an Ireland Women’s Six Nations squad capture content day at IRFU HPC in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has named his team for Saturday’s Women’s Six Nations clash with Italy at Dexcom Stadium.

Erin King leads the side into the Round 2 encounter with Italy, as Leinster winger, Wexford’s Robyn O’Connor, is named in Bemand’s starting team for her debut appearance in green.

O’Connor is joined in the Ireland back three by Stacey Flood at full-back and Béibhinn Parsons on the right wing, with Nancy McGillivray partnering Aoife Dalton in midfield.

There is an unchanged half-back pairing for Ireland as Emily Lane and Carlow’s Dannah O’Brien link up once again.

In the pack, Ellena Perry, Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald and Linda Djougang are selected in the front row, with Ruth Campbell coming into the side to join Fiona Tuite in Ireland’s engine room, while the back row of Brittany Hogan, captain King and Wexford’s Aoife Wafer remains unchanged.

Bemand has experienced options on the bench to call upon as Neve Jones, Wexford’s Niamh O’Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath, Tipperary’s Dorothy Wall and the fit again Sam Monaghan providing the forward replacements, while backs Wexford’s Katie Whelan, Eve Higgins and Anna McGann complete Ireland’s Match Day 23.

Saturday’s match is live on Virgin Media One and BBC iPlayer, with radio commentary available on RTÉ Radio 1.

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