Three Munster Rugby players named in Ireland squad for Women's World Cup opener against Japan
Munster's Amee-Leigh Costigan starts whilst Emily Lane and Enya Breen are on the bench
Head Coach Scott Bemand has named his Ireland match day squad for Sunday's Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 opener against Japan at Franklin's Gardens (Kick-off 12pm).
Ireland kick off their Pool C campaign against Japan in Northampton, with co-captains Sam Monaghan and Edel McMahon set to lead the side.
Munster are represented by trio, Amee-Leigh Costigan, Emily Lane and Enya Breen.
Bemand has named Stacey Flood, Béibhinn Parsons and Amee-Leigh Costigan in Ireland's starting back three, with Eve Higgins partnering Aoife Dalton in midfield.
Aoibheann Reilly starts at nine 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 and co-captain Monaghan in the engine room. Fiona Tuite is named at blindside flanker, with McMahon at openside and Brittany Hogan at number eight.
Bemand has strong options among the replacements with forwards Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald, in line for her second Women's Rugby World Cup in green, Ellena Perry, Sadhbh McGrath, Eimear Corri-Fallon and Grace Moore providing the reinforcements up front, while backs Emily Lane, Enya Breen and Anna McGann complete Ireland's Match Day Squad.
Sunday's match is live RTÉ2 and BBC Two, while there will be live radio commentary on RTÉ 2FM.
Ireland team to face Japan is as follows:
15. Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
14. Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)
13. Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
12. Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
11. Amee-Leigh Costigan (Railway Union RFC/Munster)
10. Dannah O'Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
9. Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)
1. Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
2. Neve Jones (Gloucester Hartpury)
3. Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
4. Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
5. Sam Monaghan (Gloucester Hartpury/IQ Rugby)(co-captain)
6. Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)
7. Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht)(co-captain)
8. Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)
Replacements:
16. Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs)
17. Ellena Perry (Gloucester Hartpury/IQ Rugby)
18. Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster)
19. Eimear Corri-Fallon (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
20. Grace Moore (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby)
21. Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)
22. Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)
23. Anna McGann (Railway Union RFC)