Ireland: Sevens stars Beibhinn Parsons and Eve Higgins in team for Dubai opener

Beibhinn Parsons and Eve Higgins have not featured for the Ireland XVs side since the 2022 Six Nations amid their commitments for the country's Sevens team

Sevens stars Beibhinn Parsons and Eve Higgins have been named in an experienced Ireland team for the WXV3 tournament opener against Kazakhstan.

The starting side named by new coach Scott Bemand for the game in Dubai does not include any uncapped players.

Forwards Sarah Delaney, Megan Collis and Eimear Corri are in line to earn debuts from the bench in Friday's game.

Parsons and Higgins have not featured for Ireland's XVs side since the 2022 Six Nations.

Since then they have helped the Sevens team qualify for the Olympics and coach Bemand has made clear his wish that some Sevens players will be available for his team despite the build-up to next year's Paris Games.

Bemand named Sam Monaghan and Edel McMahon as co-captains for the Dubai tournament following Nichola Fryday's retirement and they are among the starting forwards.

Sam Monaghan (left) and Edel McMahon (right) have been named Ireland co-captains for next month's WXV tournament in Dubai

The co-captains form part of a strong pack with Linda Djougang, former Ulster hooker Neve Jones and Christy Haney named in the front row and Dorothy Wall joining Monaghan in the lock roles.

McMahon joins Grace Moore and Ulster's sole starter Brittany Hogan in the back row.

Centre Higgins and wing Parsons are named in the backline which includes half-backs Dannah O'Brien and Molly Scuffil-McCabe, while the bench includes Inishowen woman and Ulster player Sadhbh McGrath.

"We have selected a blended squad of experience and new players and this matchday 23 get the first opportunity to put our identity out there in a Test," said coach Bemand.

"This WXV competition is going to be a great leadership experience for our co-captains Edel and Sam.

"We have seen how the potential debutants have competed in training and this will be a big moment for them and their families."

Bemand was appointed to the Ireland job in late July following Greg McWilliams' departure after the side lost all of their Six Nations games last season.

Following Friday's opener, Ireland will face Colombia in Dubai on 21 October before taking on Spain seven days later.

Bemand targets World Cup spot via Six Nations

The Dubai tournament comes before a hugely important Six Nations tournament where a top-three finish will guarantee Ireland qualification for the next World Cup after their shock failure to qualify for last year's tournament in New Zealand.

"We have a great opportunity in the Six Nations in 2024, there are a couple of away games to navigate in France and England but we have the remaining fixtures in Ireland," added Bemand.

The new coach believes the three Dubai games are an ideal way to get his reign off to a successful start.

Ireland start in the third and bottom tier of the new international competition after a dismal 12 months which has seen them fail to record a win.

Bemand admitted that he has been unable to get much information on Friday's opponents but says he has been pleased by the application shown by his squad in training and recent practice games.

"It will be nice to get some games in. We're really looking forward to the next three games to continue to build confidence in the Test environment.

"A good game against Kazakhstan is the ideal place to start that."

Ireland: Meabh Deely; Natasja Behan, Eve Higgins, Aoife Dalton, Beibhinn Parsons; Dannah O'Brien, Molly Scuffil-McCabe; Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Christy Haney; Dorothy Wall, Sam Monaghan; Grace Moore, Edel McMahon, Brittany Hogan.

Replacements: Sarah Delaney, Sadhbh McGrath, Megan Collis, Eimear Corri, Maeve Og O'Leary, Aoibheann Reilly, Nicole Fowley, Leah Tarpey.