Wafer misses out as Bemand names squad for South Africa

Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has named a 30-player squad that will face South Africa in back-to-back WXV Global Series Tests on 24 October and 31 October - with Aoife Wafer and Sam Monahan. Wafer has been dealing with an ankle injury while Monahan suffered a knee injury while on duty for Gloucester-Hartpury in August. The games, coming after their home loss to USA and victories over Japan, will be played at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town. Erin King will lead the 30-player travelling squad, with recently capped players Beth Buttimer, Jemima Adams Verling, Kate Jordan, Sophie Barrett and Alana McInerney all included. Second row Ruth Campbell returns from injury to travel with the squad but Monaghan and Wafer have been ruled out. After a remote training week following their recent victories over Japan in Galway and Cork, Ireland return to camp at the IRFU High Performance Centre on Monday before travelling to Cape Town on Thursday. Ireland squad: Forwards (17): Beth Buttimer, Brittany Hogan, Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald, Dorothy Wall, Eilís Cahill, Erin King, Fiona Tuite-O'Sullivan, Grace Moore, Jane Clohessy, Jemima Adams Verling, Kate Jordan, Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Niamh O'Dowd, Ruth Campbell, Sadhbh McGrath, Sophie Barrett Backs (13): Alana McInerney, Anna McGann, Aoibheann Reilly, Aoife Dalton, Béibhinn Parsons, Dannah O’Brien, Emily Lane, Enya Breen, Eve Higgins, Niamh Gallagher, Robyn O'Connor, Stacey Flood