New Additions To Ireland Women’s Squad

With the squad of 25 including seasoned internationals and ten debutantes following a number of post World Cup retirements, five new Munster players join the ranks for the upcoming RBS Women’s 6 Nations Championship.

From a Munster perspective experienced internationals Joy Neville, Niamh Briggs and Mairead Kelly are named alongside new faces that emerged earlier in the season during the Interprovincial series.

Uncapped players include Highfield’s Heather O’Brien and Geraldine Rea, UL Bohs Ashling Hutchings and Niamh Kavanagh, and Tralee’s Siobhan Fleming.

Speaking of his selection Ireland Women’s Coach Philip Doyle said "the dedication of the players has been excellent, both in their individual attention and motivation, and as a squad."

"'We recognise the potential of the squad while respecting the challenges ahead, the first of which is to start the Six Nations campaign against Italy away with a good performance. Being the first game of the championship means we have little knowledge of the opposition so our concentration is to be accurate as possible throughout the game with and without the ball."

Ireland open their campaign with a fixture away to Italy in Rovigo, on Sunday 6th February and will again make Ashbourne RFC in Meath their home for the tournament.

Ireland Women's Squad:
Gillian Bourke (Munster/Bristol)
Niamh Briggs (Munster/ UL Bohemians)
Lynne Cantwell (Exile/Richmond)
Fiona Coghlan (Leinster/ UL Bohemians)
Amy Davis (Leinster/Blackrock)
Lauren Day (Ulster/Waterloo)
Ailis Egan (Leinster/Old Belvedere)*
Siobhan Fleming (Munster/ Tralee RFC)*
Laura Guest (Munster/Highfield RFC)
Ashling Hutchings (Munster/ UL Bohemians)*
Niamh Kavanagh (Munster/ UL Bohemians)*
Mairead Kelly (Munster/ UL Bohemians)
Stacey Kennedy (Ulster/City of Derry)*
Emer McManamly (Leinster/Blackrock)
Claire Molloy (Connacht /Bristol)
Larissa Muldoon (Exile/UWIC)*
Joy Neville (Munster/ UL Bohemians)
Gill Nolan (Leinster/St Marys)*
Deirdre O'Brien (Leinster/Blackrock)*
Heather O'Brien (Munster/ Highfield RFC)*
Geraldine Rea (Munster/ Highfield RFC)*
Marie Louise Reilly (Leinster/Old Belvedere)
Jackie Shiels (Leinster/Richmond)
Nora Stapleton (Leinster/Old Belvedere)
Carol Staunton (Connacht/Galwegians)

*Denotes uncapped Player

Ireland Women’s 6 Nations 2011 Fixtures (all times are local to where the games are being played) –
Sun 6th Feb 11 14:30 Italy Women v Ireland Women Rovigo
Fri 11th Feb 11 19:30 Ireland Women v France Women Ashbourne RFC
Sat 26th Feb 11 14:00 Scotland Women v Ireland Women Lasswade RFC, Edinburgh
Sun 13th Mar 11 14:30 Wales Women v Ireland Women Cross Keys RFC
Fri 18th Mar 11 19:30 Ireland Women v England Women Ashbourne RFC