COACH Neill Alcorn has named his Wolfhounds team to take on Welsh side Gwalia Lightning in the fifth round of the Celtic Challenge on Saturday, February 3 at Energia Park, Dublin. (KO: 2.30PM)
Alcorn names eight Ulster women in the team, with Maebh Clenaghan starting at hooker where she is joined by tighthead prop, Sophie Barrett, in the front row.
Claire Boles and Brittany Hogan start at blindside flanker and eight respectively, with Niamh Marley keeping her place on the left wing.
There is a welcome return to action for India Daley, who is on the bench alongside fellow Ulster players, Keelin Brady and Abby Moyles.
The Wolfhounds are sitting top of the table, with four wins from four after last week’s 41-10 victory at Kingspan Stadium against Brython Thunder.
Tickets for the fifth round show-down can be found here.
Speaking on the team announcement, Alcorn said: “We really enjoyed our game last weekend in Kingspan Stadium and playing in front of our home crowd, and are looking forward to another run out in Energia Park this Saturday.”
“We want to keep driving on with our performances each week ahead of the play-off rounds. We are looking forward to playing at home once again against Gwalia Lightning for what should be another exciting game in the Celtic Challenge.”
Both of this weekend’s games are available to stream for free on RugbyPass TV.
WOLFHOUNDS Team (v Gwalia Lightning, Celtic Challenge Round 5, Energia Park, Saturday, February 3, kick-off 2:30pm):
15. Ava Ryder (Railway Union RFC/Connacht)
14. Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
13. Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
12. Katie Heffernan (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
11. Niamh Marley (Dungannon RFC/Cooke RFC/Ulster)
10. Nikki Caughey (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
9. Jade Gaffney (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
1. Aoife Moore (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
2. Maebh Clenaghan (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
3. Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen RFC/Railway Union RFC/Ulster)
4. Eimear Corri (Blackrock Rugby/Leinster)
5. Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
6. Claire Boles (Railway Union/Ulster)
7. Molly Boyne (Railway Union RFC/Leinster) (Captain)
8. Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)
Replacements:
16. India Daley (Blackrock College RFC/Ulster)
17. Megan Collis (Railway Union/Leinster)
18. Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
19. Keelin Brady (Railway Union RFC/Ulster)
20. Grace Moore (Saracens)
21. Katie Whelan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
22. Abby Moyles (Blackrock RFC/Ulster)
23. Leah Tarpey (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
