The Yorkshire connection within the Irish rugby set-up continues to grow.

Hot-on-the-heels of former Harrogate flanker Simon Easterby, now with Llanelli, retaining his spot in the starting line-up for the Six Nations finale against France, comes the news Ripon's Bridget Montgomery has earned a call-up for the women's side.

Montgomery, Leinster's English-based flanker, finally replaces Ulster captain Rachel Reid for the trip to France on Friday, having missed out on the chance of taking on Scotland through injury.

And fit-again Montgomery, who like Easterby offers the Emerald Isle options at the line out option, now gets her chance to stake a claim for the women's World Cup in May.

Meanwhile, Easterby has been rewarded for his fine form in the green shirt by retaining his spot for the Paris showdown on Saturday.

However, Easterby's older brother Guy once again has to be content for a spot on the bench after rival scrum-half Peter Stringer was cleared to play despite being stamped on the head by Italian prop Salvatore Perugini in his side's 32-17 victory.

Eddie O'Sullivan does however welcome back the talismanic Keith Wood to the front row and Rob Henderson to the centres.

Ireland: G Dempsey, S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, R Henderson, D Hickie, D Humphreys, P Stringer, P Clohessy, K Wood, J Hayes, G Longwell, M O'Kelly, S Easterby, D Wallace, A Foley. Repl: S Byrne, P Wallace, P O'Connell, K Gleeson, G Easterby, R O'Gara, J Kelly.

Updated: 11:36 Wednesday, April 03, 2002