Capital side for final home match named

Scotland international back-row Alex Stewart returns to the capital starting line-up for Saturday’s visit of the Irish Clovers at Hive Stadium (1 March, 1pm kick-off) – live on BBC iPlayer.

Captain Stewart starts following national team rest protocols and is one of two changes made by Head Coach Claire Cruikshank for her side’s final home match of this season’s Celtic Challenge.

The other change is also in the back-row, with University of Edinburgh blindside Cat Moody earning her first start following her club debut last time out.

On the match, Cruikshank said: “We’re proud of how the team fought back last week, but we need to back that up tomorrow.

“The Clovers are a dangerous side, and scored 90 points last week, so we’ll need to be at our best to get a result.”

Top try-scorer Hannah Walker starts on the wing having registered her 10^th try of the season last week and is joined in the back-three by Cieron Bell and full-back Lucia Scott.

Midfield duo of Giselle Chicot and outside-centre Lisa Brown impressed against the Wolfhounds, and both retain their starting berths.

Scrum-half Rhea Clarke starts after scoring her first try for the club last week, and once again partners stand-off Hannah Ramsay in the halves.

Vice-captain Aila Ronald starts at hooker in an unchanged front-row, with loosehead Alison Wilson and tighthead Molly Poolman.

For the ninth consecutive match Cruikshank turns to trusted lock combo of Adelle Ferrie and Natasha Logan – the duo having started every match of the season together.

Merryn Gunderson completes the back row with Stewart and Moody, packing down at number-eight for consecutive matches.

Edinburgh Rugby side to face Irish Clovers at Hive Stadium (Saturday 1 March, 1pm kick-off) – live on BBC iPlayer

15. Lucia Scott

14. Cieron Bell
13. Lisa Brown
12. Giselle Chicot
11. Hannah Walker VICE-CAPTAIN

10. Hannah Ramsay
9. Rhea Clarke

1. Alison Wilson
2. Aila Ronald VICE-CAPTAIN
3. Molly Poolman
4. Adelle Ferrie
5. Natasha Logan
6. Cat Moody
7. Alex Stewart CAPTAIN
8. Merryn Gunderson

Replacements

16. Karis Craig
17. Talei Tawake
18. Chloe Brown
19. Charlotte Russell
20. Faye Sutherland
21. Pip Benson
22. Sarah Denholm
23. Emily Love

Unavailable: Hannah McMahon, Dawn Lawrie, Georgia Young, Holly McIntyre, Sam Taganekurukuru, Charlotte Fosbeary, Shona Campbell, Nicole Marlow, Lucy MacRae