Ireland v England legends to clash in Belfast

The game will take place in Belfast at Malone RFC at 7.30pm on Friday 25th August, and features some outstanding former English and Irish players including ex Irish skipper Fiona Coghlan(pictured)

The planning has been led by ex Irish lock Rosie Foley, who was partly inspired to get the game going having watched her father Brendan and brother Anthony play in legends games over the years.

Both teams have put together formidable squads for the match.

The Irish side includes former players such as Patrique Kelly, Maura Coulter, Nicki Milne and Elaine Collins as well as more recently retired players such as Grace Davitt, Coghlan and Tania Rossier - all with huge experience and contributions to the Irish game (full list below).

The English squad is no less familiar and includes some outstanding former players like Gill Burns, Helen Clayton and Sue Day, among more recent names such as Becky Essex and Ceri Large. Both sides include former captains of the national teams.

Entry to the game is free but donations will go to DEBRA and Wooden Spoon and fans attending the World Cup final are encouraged to attend as a great warm-up for the big game the next day in Belfast.

It is being refereed by Alain Rolland, who was the first ever Irish women’s rugby coach, before going on to a top class career in test refereeing.

Speaking ahead of the game, Foley, who won 39 caps for Ireland, said.

“I am very proud to be involved in this game and thrilled that many of the players who were part of Ireland’s first ever test game in 1993 are involved - some as players and some as spectators.”

“It’s thanks to lots of hard work from a huge number of people from both sides that the game is getting off the ground and it should be a fantastic night.”

"Specifically I want to thank Nicki Milne, Susie Appleby, Helen Clayton and Fiona Stockley for their fantastic efforts, as well as Neal Johnson, Andy Weir and Carole Anne Clark for their hard-work on the ground."

The Irish squad is coached by former national team coach Philip Doyle while the English squad is coached by Carol Isherwood, one of the founding members of the RFUW.

In all there are 45 former Irish players involved and 24 former England players, including members of the very first World Cup Committee.

Canterbury have sponsored kit for Ireland while other sponsors include Harkness Screens,Talking Rugby Union, Exhibit 1 Clothin, Mark Ashcroft Benners Hotel Tralee, Der O’Sullivan and Scrumqueens.

The game will be played with Golden Oldie rules with about 20 minutes of touch included so everyone gets game time.

Ireland squad:Lauren Day, Marie Barrett,  Laura Guest, Fiona Hayes, Joss Hanrahan, Elaine Collins, Gill Bourke, Sharon Lynch, Rosie Foley, Caroline Mahon, Lorraine Noade, Therese Kennedy, Jill Henderson, Jen Leacy,  Rachel Reid, Debbie O’Connor, Siobhan Fleming, Wendy Keenan, Diane Nixon , Jackie McCarthy , Magali Dolo, Anne- Marie McAllister, Nicola Doyle, Edel Coen, Tania Rosser, Amy Davis, Siobhan O’Donovan, Elimar Flynn, Sinead Cosgrove, Patrique Kelly, Helen Brosnan, Carole Ann Byrne, Jacqui Horan, Grace Davitt, Olivia Brown, Mairead Kelly, Jeannette Feighery, Annie Parsons, Bridget Montgomery, Joy Sparkes, Maeve Quirke, Mel Nash, Nicki Milne, Maura Coulter, Fiona CoghlanEngland squad:Helen Clayton, Gill Burns, Nicky  Meston, Cath Spence, Louise Latter, Helen Harding, Susan Dorrington, Sue Day, Valerie Blackett, Maxine Edwards, Claire Purdy, Mercedes Foy, Shelley Rae, Jane Coats, Emma Layland,Vicky Macqueen, Susie Appleby, Vanessa Gray, Lois Moulding, Jenny Lynn, Anne  O Flynn, Ceri Large, Becky  Essex, Jo Poore,