Head Coach Scott Bemand has today named an extended Ireland Women’s squad, sponsored by Aon, in preparation for the upcoming Guinness Women’s Six Nations.
Bemand has selected a preparation squad of 40 players to assemble for camp at the IRFU High Performance Centre on Monday, 17 February, as Ireland build towards the opening game of the 2025 Championship against France at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday, 22 March (Kick-off 1pm).
There are eight uncapped players in the squad as Bemand and his Coaching Team have rewarded a number of players for their eye-catching performances in the Celtic Challenge, including forwards Alma Atagamen, Jane Neill, Beth Buttimer, Jane Clohessy and Sophie Barrett.
Barrett, Neill, Buttimer and Clohessy all featured for Ireland Women’s U20s last season, while Atagamen starred for the Ireland Women’s U18s during the Six Nations Festival.
In the backs, Amy Larn, Katie Heffernan and Caitriona Finn will be hoping to impress during the preparatory camps and earn their debut caps in green, as the focus remains on development and acceleration towards the Championship and further beyond to Rugby World Cup 2025.
Larn and Heffernan have represented Ireland on the HSBC SVNS Series, while Finn, alongside Heffernan, travelled to Vancouver with the Ireland squad for WXV1 last Autumn and has been in excellent form for the Clovers in the Celtic Challenge.
Unfortunately Sam Monaghan, who co-captained Ireland alongside Edel McMahon during last year’s Guinness Women’s Six Nations, has been ruled out of the Championship through injury.
Ireland open their campaign against France in Belfast before travelling to Parma to face Italy in Round 2 on Sunday, 30 March (Kick-off 3pm).
After a break week, Bemand’s side then welcome England to Virgin Media Park in Round 3 on Saturday, 12 April (Kick-off 4.45pm), followed by an away trip to Newport to go head-to-head with Wales on Sunday, 20 April (Kick-off 3pm).
Ireland conclude the Championship at Edinburgh’s Hive Stadium against Scotland on Saturday, 26 April (Kick-off 2.30pm).
Commenting on today’s squad announcement, Bemand said: “We’re delighted to select a really strong blend of 40 players in total to assemble and prepare for the start of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations, while also building towards Rugby World Cup 2025. We’ll come together in Dublin next Monday and reconnect as a group, laying the foundations for the opportunities ahead.
“Following on from successes during the WXV1 campaign in Vancouver, we have been impressed by the hard work and application of the players as they have returned to club action in recent months. The focus and determination of players as they’ve attacked Celtic Challenge training with the Clovers and Wolfhounds has been particularly pleasing, and a number of players have earned their opportunity in National Camp off the back of those performances as we grow our wave.
“We showed positive growth and evolution over the course of 2024 and the group are excited to get back in together to continue that work as we look towards the opening game against France in Belfast, which will provide a big challenge for us but we’re relishing the opportunity to perform in green while taking the home support along with us.”
Tickets for Ireland’s home matches in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations at Kingspan Stadium and Virgin Media Park are on sale here.
Domestic
Nine Munster Players In Extended Ireland Women's Squad
11th February 2025
