Ulster Rugby vs Leinster

ULSTER WOMEN TO OPEN CAMPAIGN AT HOME TO LEINSTER Ulster Women start this season’s inter-provincial series against Leinster tomorrow (Portadown RFC, 3.00pm), with coaches Philip Doyle and Jarrett Truscott calling on a mix of youth and experience for their match day squad.

ULSTER WOMEN

Lesley Megarity will captain the side from hooker and she is joined in the front row by experienced Cooke teammates Ilse van Staden and Nikita Armstrong. Omagh’s Naomi McCullough will make her senior debut in the second row alongside Colette Broome. Another debutant, Niamh Fitzgerald, has been named in the back row with Queen’s University duo Imogen Porter and Lauren Maginnes. Promising young Enniskillen scrumhalf Kathryn Dane has been included after a string of brilliant performances at Ireland underage level. She is partnered at half back by influential playmaker Jemma Jackson. Claire McLaughlin and ex-Ireland international Grace Davitt will combine in midfield, while Cooke players make up the entire back three; Eliza Downey, Amy Davis and Teah Maguire. There is plenty of experience among the replacements, while Jamie Love and Amy O’Neill will make their first senior appearances if called upon.

ULSTER WOMEN’S TEAM TO PLAY LEINSTER SATURDAY 22nd AUGUST 2015, PORTADOWN RFC, 3.00pm

1. ILSE VAN STADEN // COOKE 2. LESLEY MEGARITY // COOKE, CAPTAIN 3. NIKITA ARMSTRONG // COOKE 4. COLETTE BROOME // QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY 5. NAOMI McCULLAGH // OMAGH 6. NIAMH FITZGERALD // OLD BELVEDERE 7. IMOGEN PORTER // QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY 8. LAUREN MAGINNES // QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY 9. KATHRYN DANE // ENNISKILLEN 10. JEMMA JACKSON // QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY 11. ELIZA DOWNEY // COOKE 12. CLAIRE McLAUGHLIN // QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY 13. GRACE DAVITT // COOKE 14. AMY DAVIS // COOKE 15. TEAH MAGUIRE // COOKE REPLACEMENTS: 16. JAMIE LOVE // CITY OF DERRY 17. SORCHA CHIPPERFIELD // COOKE 18. SHANNON HEAPES // CITY OF DERRY 19. AMY O’NEILL // BLACKROCK 20. NOREEN NETHERCOTT // ENNISKILLEN 21. STACEY SLOAN // CITY OF DERRY 22. ZOE TEMPLETON // QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY 23. PEITA MCALISTER // QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY ULSTERWOMEN’S MANAGEMENT TEAM: COACHES PHILIP DOYLE & JARRETT TRUSCOTT TEAMMANAGER KERRY SPENCE RESOURCES CO-ORDINATOR ANDY WEIR PHYSIO ANDREW CREANEY

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACHES PAUL HEASLEY & STEWART WALKER

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