Women’s Six Nations: Ireland v France – live text

France get us underway on Hollie Davidson’s whistle attacking the War Memorial End at the Kingspan Stadium!

The anthems have been belted out and we are almost ready to kick off the 2025 Women’s Six Nations in Belfast!

Centre Eve Higgins says Ireland have “huge belief” heading into their Women’s Six Nations opener with France in Belfast (13:00 GMT).

Ireland have had a strong year of progress under head coach Scott Bemand and a third place finish in last year’s Six Nations secured qualification for the World Cup.

That was then backed up by a win over Australia in Belfast and a shock, historic victory in WXV1 against New Zealand in Vancouver.

“That has grown a huge belief in this squad,” Higgins said on Ireland’s progress in 2024.

“Every single one of us is looking forward to going into the Six Nations and building on last year.”

David Ortiz and Gaelle Mignot’s France team will be co-captained by wing Marine Menager and second row Manae Feleu,

They will have a sevens star of their own in Seraphine Okemba at openside while there will also be a Six Nations debut for Lea Champon off the bench.

France team: Bourgeois, Llorems Vignères, Konde. Vernier, Menager (co-capt), Arbez, Bourdon-Sansus, Brosseau, Sochat, Bernadou, M. Feleu (co-capt), Fall-Raclot, Escudero, Okemba, T. Feleu

Replacements: Bigot, Mwayembe, Joyeux, Berthoumieu, Champon, Chambon, Queyroi, Boulard

Ireland defence coach Hugh Hogan says the team are determined to continue their upward curve during this year’s Women’s Six Nations even though they face a tough opener against France.

“When Scott started off, he built a road map of where this Ireland team can get to and truthfully, we’re tracking pretty well but we have to keep making progress,” said Hogan, who joined Bemand’s staff last August after a career which has included coaching stints with Leinster and the Scarlets.

“We don’t want to settle where we are. If you look at the players, we have, we’ve got some outstanding athletes, some brilliant footballers and some incredibly diligent, hard-working players.”

Ireland head coach Scott Bemand says he is confident that his side “can land a few” as they prepare to begin their Women’s Six Nations campaign against France in Belfast on Saturday.

The Irish finished third in last year’s Six Nations to clinch a place at this summer’s World Cup, then overcame Australia and secured a stunning win over world champions New Zealand in September in the WXV1 tournament.

Their next challenge is to try and break the dominance established by England and France in the Six Nations over recent years.

“We’ve got to move our game forward. We’re hungry to close the gap on perhaps the monopoly held by England and France, to a degree. They’ve been the top two in the Six Nations for a good while,” reflected Bemand before the weekend encounter with Les Bleus.

“Last year we scored 17 points [in a 38-17 defeat by France] and we hadn’t scored a point for three years before that.

“Obviously they [France] have had a relatively tough WXV1, they said they reviewed it hard over in France, so bringing them to our shores gives us a great opportunity to test ourselves.”

Amee-Leigh Costigan will captain Ireland against France.

Costigan previously captained Ireland Sevens but will lead Ireland for the first time in a Test match in Belfast with regular captain Edel McMahon on the bench.

Second row Ruth Campbell and openside flanker Erin King will make their Six Nations debuts for Scott Bemand’s side.

The Ireland team shows four changes to the side that beat USA in the WXV Series in their last game in October as Campbell, Anna McGann, Eve Higgins and Dannah O’Brien are handed starts.

Stacey Flood and McGann join Costigan in the back three with McGann coming in for the retired Eimear Considine at right wing.

Eve Higgins and Aoife Dalton are selected as the midfield pairing whilst Emily Lane makes her first championship appearance since 2021 at scrum-half as O’Brien comes in for Nicole Fowley at out-half.

Niamh O’Dowd, Neve Jones, who has been selected as vice-captain, and Linda Djougang make up the front row, with Campbell preferred to Fiona Tuite at lock alongside Dorothy Wall.

Brittany Hogan, King and Aoife Wafer complete Ireland’s back row.

Bemand has opted for a 6:2 split on the bench and can call upon the likes of Cliodhna Moloney, Siobhan McCarthy, Christy Haney, Grace Moore, Tuite and McMahon as forward reinforcements, with Aoibheann Reilly and Enya Breen the backline replacements.

Ireland team: Flood, McGann, Dalton, Higgins, Costigan (capt); O’Brien, Lane; O’Dowd, Jones, Djougang, Campbell, Wall, Hogan, King, Wafer.

Replacements: Moloney, McCarthy, Haney, Moore, Tuite, McMahon, Reilly, Breen.

Along with Brittany Hogan, Ulster lock Fiona Tuite is one of two players who will be playing on her home ground this afternoon, while Gloucester’s Neve Jones is from Ballymena but moved to the PWR in 2022.

Tuite, who starts on the bench, says the side “100% believe” they can get a result against France.

“We’re really focused on this being a journey and on ourselves,” said the 28-year-old.

“If the result comes, then absolutely, it’s class. But do we think we can punch? Absolutely.”

Read more.

After taking significant steps forward over the past 12 months, Ireland’s Emily Lane has been speaking this week about wanting to see “the green wave” gain more momentum through the Women’s Six Nations and beyond.

The scrum-half feels building on last year’s strong showings will engage fans at the start of a significant year for the side with a World Cup in England to come in August and September.

“Performances will bring supporters along on our green wave,” she said.

“That’s what we’re really focusing on, our performances on the pitch.

“We want as many people on board our green wave. It’s gaining momentum, more and more people are talking about it, which is really exciting.”

Read more.

With Sam Monaghan injured, and her fellow co-captain Edel McMahon one of six forwards on the Ireland bench, Ireland will have a first-time captain today.

Amee-Leigh Costigan, who has previously captained Ireland Sevens, will lead the side out at Kingspan Stadium.

“It’s a huge honour, I’m so excited about it,” she told BBC Sport.

“I’ve been guided really well by Tricky [McMahon] and Sam, the co-captains.

“They’ve given me really good advice over the last 48 hours.”

The men’s championship may have only finished a week ago but there’s no rest when it comes to international rugby these days!

The Women’s Six Nations begins with Ireland hosting France in Belfast and we’ll be bringing you all the action and reaction right here.

The hosts haven’t beaten today’s opposition since 2017 but, after winning five games in 2024, they’ll be hoping to start this World Cup year with a statement victory.

Can they do it? Stay with us to find out!

We’ll have live-text coverage on this page, while you can also watch the game here, on BBC Two Northern Ireland or the iPlayer.

Thanks for joining us!