McMahon returns to captain Ireland against Italy

Women's Six Nations, Italy v Ireland

Date: Sunday, 30 March Venue: Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma Kick-off: 15:00 BST

Coverage: Live on BBC Two NI, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website from 14:45

Edel McMahon will lead Ireland out in Sunday's Six Nations game against Italy as coach Scott Bemand makes three changes for the Parma encounter.

McMahon started on the bench in last weekend's 27-15 defeat by France in the opener but is named at blindside flanker in place of Brittany Hogan.

Aoibheann Reilly comes in at scrum-half for Emily Lane and Fiona Tuite takes over from Dorothy Wall in the second row.

Bemand says his side are "in good health" ahead of the match at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.

Ireland came close to causing an upset in Belfast but in the end lost to France, who won despite a 20th-minute red card for Gabrielle Vernier.

Italy started their campaign with a 38-5 away defeat by England last Sunday.

Ireland: Flood; McGann, Dalton, Higgins, Costigan (capt); O'Brien, Reilly; O'Dowd, Jones, Djougang, Campbell, Tuite, McMahon, King, Wafer

Replacements: Moloney, McCarthy, Haney, Moore, Wall, Hogan, Lane, Breen