WORCESTER Rugby Club's utility back Nicola Milne will start for Ireland against Wales in the first Six Nations Championship game this weekend.

The 27-year-old, who is head of girl's physical education at Nunnery Wood High School in Worcester, will gain her third full international cap when she starts at fly half against the Welsh. The match kicks off in Limerick at 7pm on Saturday.

Milne has been playing for Worcester Ladies since 1996 when she arrived in Worcester to study for her PGCE at University College.

She gained her first international cap back in 1997 but was forced to take two seasons out of rugby after suffering a knee injury.

She went back into the Irish international squad in the summer and gained her second cap against Holland in September.

* Eighteen-year-old Richard Ralph is in action for England today when he plays for the under-19s against Scotland. The Leigh Sinton prop plays in the clash at Edinburgh University. Ralph, who is studying at Exeter University this year, is a former Worcester Grammar School pupil.

* Worcester Rugby Club's under 19 and King's School number eight Luke Narraway made his surprise England Schools Under 18 debut at Twickenham.

Narraway started in England's 22-29 loss against New Zealand Under 18 after a last minute call up.

Narraway had reached the final trial for the team on January 5 and 6 but failed to initially make the starting 22-man squad.

* Following trials last week at Lichfield, eight Worcester players were selected for the West Midlands regional ladies under 16 squad to play against other regions over the remainder of the season.

Those selected were Becky Lander, Becky Blakeway, Niki Savory, Helen Clewer, Natalie Clifford, Sarah Guest, Alice Richardson and Kat Merchant.

The squad form the basis for the selection of the West Midlands teams to play 15-a-side fixtures against the North West Region at Telford RFC on Sunday, the North East at Lichfield RFC on Sunday, March 3, and the East Midlands at Coalville on Sunday, March 17.