Amee-Leigh Costigan to captain Ireland against France in Six Nations opener

Amee-Leigh Costigan will make her Test match captaincy debut for Ireland in the Women's Six Nations opener against France at Kingspan Stadium on March 22. Costigan, who previously led the Ireland Sevens team, steps in as regular captain Edel McMahon is on the bench. The team features four changes from their last match, including the debut of Ruth Campbell and the return of Stacey Flood from injury. Head coach Scott Bemand emphasizes the challenge posed by a talented French squad, stating the team is excited to showcase their growth. The match will be broadcasted live on BBC Northern Ireland and iPlayer. Ireland aims to improve upon their last encounter with France, where they suffered a defeat.