Eight Munster Players In Ireland Women's U20 Squad Bound For Parma

The Ireland Women's U20s squad, sponsored by PwC, has been named for the inaugural Six Nations Women's Summer Series in Italy Following a series of camps at the IRFU High Performance Centre and a training camp in England, Head Coach Niamh Briggs has selected a squad of 28 players to travel to Parma, where Ireland will face England, Italy and Scotland. Eight Munster players have been named in Niamh Brigg's team. Grainne Burke, Beth Buttimer, Aoibheann Hahessy, Brianna Heylmann, Lily Morris, Ellen Boylan, Kate Flannery, Chisom Ugwueru have all been named in the travelling team with Kate Flannery taking on the role of vice captain for the tournament. Ireland's opening match is against England on Thursday, 4 July (Kick-off 5.30pm Irish time), before Briggs' side face Italy in Match Day 2 on Tuesday, 9 July (Kick-off 9am Irish time). The campaign concludes against Scotland on Sunday, 14 July (Kick-off 9am), with all matches streamed live on the Six Nations U20 YouTube Channel, as well on IrishRugby.ie. Six players named in the travelling squad featured in this year's Energia All-Ireland League Final at Aviva Stadium, including Player of the Match Ugwueru, as well as Beth Buttimer, Brianna Heylmann, Faith Oviawe, Éabha Nic Dhonnacha and Flannery. 15 of the 28 players also featured in this year’s Celtic Challenge for the Clovers and Wolfhounds, while Campbell, Kiripati, Flannery and Ugwuere were named in the Ireland training panel for the Guinness Women's Six Nations. Speaking about the tournament Head Coach Niamh Briggs said, “It’s exciting for all of us to be part of this tournament. Having these structures in place at U18 and U20 is important in helping the players to develop and bridge the gap to senior internationals. This gives players time to expose themselves to better opposition and I suppose expose themselves to higher level rugby, expose themselves to camp and the environment that that brings.” Commenting on the traveling squad announcement, Enda McDonagh, Managing Partner at PwC Ireland added: "Everyone at PwC is really excited about the inaugural U20 Women’s Six Nations Summer Series campaign kicking off in Parma, Italy next week. We wish Head Coach Niamh Briggs, her wider coaching team and all the players in the travelling squad the very best of luck in their three fixtures, as they take on England, Italy and Scotland.”

Ireland U20 Women’s Squad – Six Nations Summer Series

FORWARDS Sophie Barrett - Enniskillen/Railway Union/Ulster Grainne Burke - Ennis/Munster Kelly Burke - Mullingar/Leinster Beth Buttimer - UL Bohemian/Munster Ruth Campbell - Old Belvedere/Leinster Aoibheann Hahessy - UL Bohemian/Munster Brianna Heylmann - UL Bohemian/Munster Ivana Kiripati - American International College/Connacht Roisin Maher - Galwegians/Connacht Amanda McQuade - Ealing Trailfinders/IQ Rugby Lily Morris - Killarney/Munster Eadaoin Murtagh - Old Belvedere/Leinster Jane Neill - Galwegians/Leinster (CAPTAIN) Cliodhna Ni Chonchobhair - Blackrock College/Leinster Faith Oviawe - Railway Union/Connacht Hannah Wilson - Old Belvedere/Leinster BACKS Clara Barrett - UL Bohemian/Connacht Ellen Boylan - Blackrock College/Munster Hannah Clarke - Tuam/Ougterard/Connacht Kate Flannery - UL Bohemian/Munster (VICE CAPTAIN) Jade Gaffney - Old Belvedere/Leinster Niamh Gallagher - Saracens/IQ Rugby May Goulding - Saracens/Old Albanian Saints/IQ Rugby Lucia Linn - Loughborough University/IQ Rugby Éabha Ni Dhonnacha - Tuam/Oughterard/UL Bohemian/Connacht Robyn O'Connor - Wexford Wanderers/Leinster Ellie O'Sullivan/Sexton - Mullingar/Leinster Chisom Ugwueru – UL Bohemian/Munster   IRELAND U20 WOMEN’S MANAGEMENT TEAM Head Coach – Niamh Briggs Assistant Coach – JP Walsh Assistant Coach – Murray Houston Athletic Development Coach - Paul Heasley Physio - Aoife Healy Kit Man - John McDonald Analyst - Niamh O'Donovan Nutrition - Leanne Varley Team Manager - Becky Irvine   IRELAND FIXTURES – U20 SIX NATIONS WOMEN’S SUMMER SERIES England v Ireland, Thursday, July 4, kick off 6.30pm local time/5.30pm Irish time Ireland v Italy, Tuesday, July 9, kick off 10am local time/9am Irish time Ireland v Scotland, Sunday, July 14, kick off 10am local time/9am Irish time