Uncapped Sadhbh McGrath set for Ireland debut against Wales

Ulster prop Sadhbh McGrath will make her Ireland debut in Saturday's TikTok Women's Six Nations opener against Wales in Cardiff.

The 18-year-old is named to start at loosehead prop for Greg McWilliams' side, having impressed for the Combined Provinces in their recent Celtic Challenge campaign.

McGrath is one of two players set for their first caps, with another loosehead prop, Niamh O'Dowd of Leinster, in line to win her debut off the bench.

Nichola Fryday captains the side from second row, where she joins Sam Monaghan, who was one of Ireland's standouts in the 2022 campaign, with the pair packing down behind a front row of McGrath, Neve Jones and Linda Djougang.

Dorothy Wall and Maeve Óg O'Leary start on either flank, with the Munster pair either side of Ulster's Brittany Hogan, who starts at number 8.

McWilliams has opted for the experienced Nicole Cronin at out-half ahead of Leinster's Dannah O'Brien, who impressed on the summer tour of Japan, with Molly Scuffil-McCabe partnering her in the half-backs.

As expected, Enya Breen and Aoife Dalton team up in the centre, with Aoife Doyle and Natasja Behan on the wings, and Connacht's Méabh Deely named at full-back.

McWilliams has opted for a 6:2 split on the bench, with Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird in line to win her first cap since 2019 off the bench. The versatile Cork women is named as a replacement hooker, but starred for Munster at both hooker and back row during their interprovincial championship win earlier this year.

The IRFU have also confirmed that forwards Edel McMahon and Aoife Wafer have been ruled out of the championship due to injury.

Ireland: Méabh Deely; Aoife Doyle, Aoife Dalton, Enya Breen, Natasja Behan; Nicole Cronin, Molly Scuffil-McCabe; Sadhbh McGrath, Neve Jones,