Ireland Women's Squad confirmed for 2018 Women's Six Nations
The Ireland Women's squad, sponsored by Aon, for the Women's Six Nations Championship 2018 has been confirmed.
The side, coached by Adam Griggs sees 38 players from 10 clubs named, with nine uncapped players included.
Nine players named are part of the Ireland Women's 7s Programme. With the Sydney 7s taking place on the 27th and 28th of January, players who are selected for this tournament will not be available for the first game in France.
Griggs will name his captain in the new year, upon completion of scheduled training camps.
Ireland play France in their opening game of the Championship on Saturday, 3rd February at the Stade Ernst-Wallon in Toulouse, with a 9pm kick-off.
They will then have three home games in Donnybrook Stadium with Italy on the 11th February, Wales on the 29th February and Scotland on the 11th March.
Ireland will finish their Championship at away to England on March 1th, in what will be a double header in the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, with the Ireland U20s meeting their English counterparts after the women's game.
Ireland will also travel to face Wales in an uncapped warm-up fixture in January.
Speaking on the confirmation of the squad, Adam Griggs said:
"Over the course of the interprovincial fixtures I've had the opportunity to see the players in competitive and challenging games, and it was very valuable for me to see them in action.
There is good experience in the squad, with most of the players selected competing at this level for a number of seasons.
In addition to those experienced players, there are also nine uncapped players named, and they've all earned their inclusion by performing well in the Interpro games and for the Irish Sevens, and I've no doubt there will be good competition for places throughout the campaign.
I'm excited to be working with these players and I'm looking forward to getting the campaign underway in what is set to be a tough opening game in the south of France.”
Tickets for the Ireland Women's home games in Donnybrook are available now via www.ticketmaster.ie
The IRFU is offering a bus subsidy of up to 400 euro per club for private transport hire. For more information on the bus subsidy for the 2018 Women's Six Nations, contact womensrugby@irfu.ie before purchasing tickets.
Ireland Women's Six Nations Squad 2018
Forwards:
Elaine Anthony (Highfield / Munster)
Ashleigh Baxter (Cooke / Ulster)
Anna Caplice (UL Bohemian / Munster)
Ciara Cooney (Railway Union / Leinster)
Laura Feely (Galwegians / Connacht)*
Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary's College / Leinster)
Orla Fitzsimons (St. Mary's College / Leinster)
Nichola Fryday (Tullamore / Connacht)
Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemian / Munster)
Leah Lyons (Highfield / Munster)
Aoife McDermott (Railway Union / Leinster)*
Edel McMahon ((Galwegians / Connacht)*
Claire Molloy (Bristol)
Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union / Leinster)
Ciara O'Connor (Galwegians / Connacht)
Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemian / Munster)
Lindsay Peat (Railway Union / Leinster)
Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemian / Munster)
Backs:
Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians / Munster)
Nikki Caughey (Railway Union / Ulster)
Michelle Claffey (Blackrock College / Leinster)*
Mairead Coyne (Galwegians / Connacht)
Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemian / Munster)
Jeamie Deacon (Blackrock College / Leinster)
Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock College / Leinster)
Kim Flood (Railway Union / Leinster)
Louise Galvin (UL Bohemian / Munster)
Mary Healy (Galwegians / Connacht)
Katie Heffernan (Railway Union / Leinster)*
Eve Higgins (Railway Union / Leinster)*
Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union / Leinster)
Claire McLaughlin (Cooke / Ulster)
Alison Miller (Old Belvedere / Connacht)
Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird (UL Bohemian / Munster)*
Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Susan Vaughan (Railway Union / Leinster)*
Megan Williams (Old Belvedere / Leinster)*
*denotes uncapped player
Ireland Women's Six Nations Fixtures 2018
Saturday 3rd February 2018
France Women v Ireland Women, 9pm (local) / 8pm (GMT), Stade Ernst Wallon, Toulouse
Sunday 11th February 2018
Ireland Women v Italy Women, 1pm, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin
Sunday 25th February 2018
Ireland Women v Wales Women, 3pm, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin
Sunday 11th March 2018
Ireland Women v Scotland Women, 1pm, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin
Friday 16th March 2016
England Women v Ireland Women, 5.30pm, Ricoh Arena, Coventry