Rugby union: Gemma Sharples promote to starting line-up for Six Nations clash

Feb 25 2009 Ellesmere Port Pioneer

GEMMA Sharples will make her first Six Nations start when England’s women’s team travel to Dublin to take on Ireland on Friday.

Sharples, of Little Sutton, will be looking to get England’s campaign back on track after they went down 16-15 to Wales at Taffs Wells.

The Worcester Wolves flanker, who now lives in the Bristol area where she works as a teacher, came on as a 50th-minute replacement in the last-gasp defeat to Wales but she will be in from the start this weekend.

The Wales setback was England’s first loss since the World Cup final back in 2006 against New Zealand. England had opened their Six Nations account with a 69-13 success over Italy at the start of the month.