Two long-term Irish injury layoffs to come to an end against Scotland

Ireland pair Sam Monaghan and Beibhinn Parsons will make long-awaited injury comebacks during Saturday’s World Cup warm-up clash with Scotland in Cork.

Captain Monaghan, who starts in the second row, has been out of action with a knee injury sustained in June 2024, while wing Parsons broke her leg in December.

Head coach Scott Bemand has handed debuts to Connacht flanker Ivana Kiripati and Exeter centre Nancy McGillivray.

Connacht forward Ailish Quinn is set to win her first international cap from the bench.

Fixture

Women's Internationals

Ireland Women

27 - 21

Full-time

Scotland Women

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Leinster’s Eimear Corri-Fallon, who is also returning from long-term injury, joins skipper Monaghan in the second row.

Ireland, who host Canada in Belfast next weekend, begin the World Cup on Sunday, August 24, against Japan in Northampton.

Bemand said: “This is the first real opportunity for players to put their hands up for World Cup selection, and that’s brought great intensity to our work in camp.

“We’ve seen real growth in this group since we assembled at the start of June, and now it’s about transferring that onto the pitch.

“There’s a lot of competition for places, which is exactly what we want heading into a major tournament.

“Scotland are a quality side, and our recent encounters have all been tight, physical battles — that’s the kind of test we need as we build towards the Rugby World Cup.”

Ireland team: M Deely, B Parsons, N McGillivray, E Higgins, A Costigan; D O’Brien, M Scuffil-McCabe; S McCarthy, C Moloney-MacDonald, S McGrath, E Corri-Fallon, S Monaghan (capt), G Moore, I Kiripati, B Hogan.

Replacements: N Jones, N O’Dowd, L Djougang, F Tuite, D Nic a Bhaird, A Quinn, E Lane, E Breen.