Four Connacht women have been named in the Ireland rugby squad that will face Italy tomorrow night in the RBS Six Nations opener.
Experienced left wing Alison Millar with 22 caps, and openside Clare Molloy (35 caps ) join Galwegians’ prop Ruth Reilly (three caps ) in the starting XV, while the uncapped Sene Naoupu is named on the bench.
The women are also in Italy and will face their counterparts at Stadio Mario Lodigiani (6pm ). The game can be viewed by stream: www.Federugby.it and www.youtube.com/fedrugby
On the Ireland u-20 team, coached by Connacht Academy head Nigel Carolan, three Connacht players have been named in squad.
Openside flanker Rory Moloney, who played in last year’s campaign, is named in the starting line-up, while Conan O’Donnell (Sligo/NUIG ) and Cian Romaine (Buccaneers ) are on the bench. The u-20s take on Italy in the championship opener tomorrow evening (6pm ) at Stadio Pozzi Lamarmora.
At senior level Robbie Henshaw is expected to be named in Joe Schmidt’s starting XV, and there are hopes scrumhalf Kieran Marmion and Nathan White will be included in the matchday squad.
