In the second of the festive derbies that mark the start of the tournament The Clovers will have a point to prove against their provincial rivals following last Sunday’s 33-7 defeat at Energia Park.
In the first of two festive derbies the Clovers were only seven points behind at half-time, however the Wolfhounds pulled clear to kick off the expanded 10-round competition in impressive fashion.
Clovers Head Coach Denis Fogarty has made three changes to the starting XV from that game with Ireland international Sadhbh McGrath coming into the front row alongside Siobhán McCarthy and Beth Buttimer.
Ruth Campbell and Jane Neill continue their second-row partnership while the second changes sees Ireland co-captain Edel McMahon join Deirbhile Nic a Bháird and Ivana Kiripati in the back row.
The third change sees Hannah Clarke move to the left wing with Alana McInerney named on the right wing and Meabh Deely at fullback.
Emily Lane and Nicole Fowley are again named at 9 and 10 respectively with captain Enya Breen and Ellen Boylan in the centre.
In the replacements Emily Gavin will be hoping for her first start in the tournament.
Tickets are available from ticketmaster.ie – click here.
The match is available on TG4, BBC, Rugby Pass TV and irishrugby+ platforms.
Clovers Team & Replacements (v Wolfhounds, Celtic Challenge, Saturday, December 28, UCD, 12pm)
15. Meabh Deely (Blackrock College/Connacht)
14. Alana McInerney (UL Bohemian/Munster)
13. Ellen Boylan (Blackrock College/Munster)
12. Enya Breen (Blackrock College/Munster) Captain
11. Hannah Clarke (Galwegians/Connacht)
10. Nicole Fowley (Galwegians/Connacht)
9. Emily Lane (Blackrock College/Munster)
1. Siobhán McCarthy (Railway Union/Munster)
2. Beth Buttimer (UL Bohemian/Munster)
3. Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke/Ulster)
4. Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
5. Jane Neill (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
6. Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht)
7. Deirbhile Nic a Bháird (Old Belvedere/Munster)
8. Ivana Kiripati (Creggs/Connacht)
Replacements
16. Emily Gavin (Connacht)
17. Grainne Burke (UL Bohemian/Munster)
18. Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen/Railway Union/Ulster)
19. Faith Oviawe (Railway Union/Connacht)
20. Jemima Adams Verling (Creggs/Connacht)
21. Grainne Moran (Galwegians/Connacht)
22. Caitriona Finn (UL Bohemian/Munster)
23. Chisom Ugwueru (UL Bohemian/Munster)
The Wolfhounds team to play The Clovers in Round 2 of the Celtic Challenge at UCD on Saturday (12pm) has been named.
Head Coach Neil Alcorn has retained the same starting XV for the second of the seasonal derby matches. The Wolfounds won the opening round by 33-7 building on a halftime lead of 14-7 to pull away from their provincial opponents.
Dual 7s and 15s star Stacey Flood, who scored one try and set up two more in that win, again starts at fullback with Vicky Elmes Kinlan and try scorer Amy Larn on the wings.
The international centre partnership of Eve Higgins and Aoife Dalton are joined by Dannah O’Brien and Katie Whelan at 9 and 10.
Up front international props Niamh O’Dwyer and Linda Djougang pack down either side of Maebh Clenaghan with Alma Atagamen and Poppy Garvey continuing in the second row.
The back row sees Molly Boyne, captain Claire Boles and Erin King named to start.
In the replacements Lucinda Kinghan comes in as the only change.
Tickets are available here from ticketmaster.ie and the game is available on TG4, BBC, Rugby Pass TV and irishrugby+ platforms
Wolfhounds Team & Replacements (v Clovers, Celtic Challenge, Sunday, December 22, Energia Park, 4pm)
15. Stacey Flood (Railway Union/Leinster)
14. Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow/Leinster)
13. Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
12. Eve Higgins (Railway Union)
11. Amy Larn (Athy/Leinster)
10. Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
9. Katie Whelan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
1. Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
2. Maebh Clenaghan (Queens/Cooke/Ulster)
3. Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
4. Alma Atagamen (Balbriggan/Leinster)
5. Poppy Garvey (Sligo Rugby/Railway Union/Connacht)
6. Molly Boyne (Railway Union/Leinster)
7. Claire Boles (Railway Union/Ulster) Captain
8. Erin King (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Replacements
16. Kelly Burke (Mullingar/Leinster)
17. Tricia Doyle (Railway Union/Leinster)
18. Caoimhe Molloy (Wicklow/Leinster)
19. Cliodhna Ni Chonchobhair (Blackrock College/Leinster)
20. Lucinda Kinghan (Railway Union/Ulster)
21. Erin McConnell (Wicklow/Leinster)
22. Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
23. Megan Burns (Blackrock College/Leinster)
