Munster have eleven players on the Ireland Women’s squad representing three club sides, UL Bohemians, Highfield and Clonmel.

In the build up to the tournament we will catch up with Munster’s representatives, and first up is one of Ireland’s most experienced players, scrumhalf Louise Beamish.

Hailing from Cork, Louise has been capped for Ireland 41 times and plays her club rugby with UL Bohemians. She has played an instrumental role in Munster’s Interprovincial successes over the years and has been involved with the province for the past decade.

Getting to know Louise Beamish

Name: Louise Beamish

Favourite Food: A good steak

Book you are currently reading or have just finished: Can’t remember – it mustn’t have been very good

Favourite TV programme: Grey’s Anatomy/ Brothers and Sisters

Favourite Film: Up

Favourite Actor/Actress: Robert Downey Junior

Most enjoyable holiday location: Disneyworld

Marooned on a desert island what could you not be without: Tea

Favourite sport other than rugby: Athletics

The sport you least like: Golf

Sportsperson you admire most: Michael Johnson

Hobbies: No time for those

Where and when did you first play rugby: First started with Ballincollig when I was 15 – Ray Greene had just set up a team there.

Biggest influence on career: Ian Costello

Best career advice you were given: It’s only a game

What you like most/least about being a rugby player: A sense of achievement / Not a lot of free time

Other sports that you played: Athletics /Lifesaving

Best rugby memory: Being sent out like lambs to the slaughter in our first ever AIL match against Blackrock.

Rugby Player you admire most: Will Genia

Rugby team you admire most: Irish Women

Sporting event you would most like to attend: Olympics

If you weren’t a rugby player what would you be: A dancer

Three people you would invite to dinner and why: My family