TWO Ulster players keep their places in the Wolfhounds starting line-up for the opening round of the Celtic Challenge Playoffs this weekend, with six more among the replacements.
The starters are Meabh Clenaghan and Clare Boles as the Wolfhounds head to the Hive Stadium to take on Edinburgh Rugby at 1.00pm on Saturday as top seeds, with five wins from five in the series so far.
Head coach Neill Alcorn has made four changes to the starting team, from their fifth round win over Gwalia Lightning.
In the pack Christy Haney comes in to the front row, while Grace Moore starts at 8. In the backline Ellen Boylan starts on to the wing and Leah Tarpey slots in at outside centre.
Speaking about the match Alcorn said: “The competition is heating up now as we head into the play-off rounds. We need to keep building on our performances and back up the work we have put in so far. We are looking forward to getting on the road again this weekend, as we head to the Hive Stadium to once again take on a strong Edinburgh rugby side in the Celtic Challenge.”
The women’s cross-border annual competition is designed to develop players from Scotland, Ireland and Wales. The competition, in its second year, involves six teams in an extended format, with two from each participating nation. Wolfhounds are made up of Ulster and Leinster players.
The game will be available to stream for free on RugbyPass TV.
Team:
15. Ava Ryder (Railway Union RFC/Connacht)
14. Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
13. Leah Tarpey (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
12. Katie Heffernan (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
11. Ellen Boylan (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)
10. Nikki Caughey (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
9. Jade Gaffney (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
1. Aoife Moore (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
2. Meabh Clenaghan (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
3. Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
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. Grace Moore (Saracens)
Replacements:
16. India Daley (Blackrock College RFC/Ulster)
17. Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
18. Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen RFC/Railway Union RFC/Ulster)
19. Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)
20. Keelin Brady (Railway Union RFC/Ulster)
21. Katie Whelan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
22. Abby Moyles (Blackrock RFC/Ulster)
23. Kelly McCormill (Cooke RFC/Ulster)
