8 Munster Players In Ireland Women’s Squad

Head Coach Tom Tierney has named the Ireland Women’s squad, sponsored by Aon, for the Women’s Six Nations with eight Munster players selected.

Niamh Briggs captains the side with two other backs selected, Niamh Kavanagh and the uncapped Eimer Considine, who has previously played for the Ireland Women's 7s team.

Five Munster forwards are included, Elaine Anthony, Anna Caplice, Ciara Griffin, Leah Lyons and Heather O'Brien.

Ireland will play Scotland in their first game of the Championship on Friday, February 3, at the Broadwood Stadium in Glasgow. They will then travel to L'Aquila to face Italy on Sunday, February 12.

Their first home game will be against France in Donnybrook on Sunday, February 26. They will then take on Wales in the Cardiff Arms Park, on Saturday, March 11 – the morning after Ireland Men play Wales at the Principality Stadium.

Ireland will finish their Championship at home against England on March 17, in what will be a double header in Donnybrook on St. Patrick's Day, as the Ireland U20s will play their English counterparts before the women's game.

For the first time since the inception of the tournament, all of Ireland's games will be broadcast live on RTE.

Speaking on the selection, Tom Tierney said: “It's set to be a busy and exciting year for this team, and it all gets underway next Friday against Scotland.

“While we had some tough games in November, the experience the players gained in those matches will stand to them as we head into the Six Nations Championship.

“There is a good blend of youth and experience in the squad, and having had weekly camps since Christmas, we've been working hard getting our structures in place and making sure everyone knows their job.

“The fact that all of our games will be broadcast this season adds an additional element of excitement to the campaign so everyone is looking forward to it all getting underway.”

Tickets for the Ireland Women's home games in Donnybrook are available now via www.ticketmaster.ie.

Ireland Women's 2017 Six Nations Squad
Forwards:
Elaine Anthony (Highfield / Munster)
Anna Caplice (UL Bohemians / Munster)
Ciara Cooney (Railway Union / Leinster)
Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary's College / Leinster)
Orla Fitzsimons (St. Mary's College / Leinster)
Nichola Fryday (Tullamore / Connacht)
Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians / Munster)
Leah Lyons (Highfield / Munster)
Claire Molloy (Bristol / Connacht)
Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union / Leinster)
Heather O'Brien (Highfield / Munster)
Ciara O'Connor (Galwegians / Connacht)*
Ruth O'Reilly (Galwegians / Connacht)
Lindsay Peat (Railway Union / Leinster)
Marie-Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Ilse Van Staden (Cooke / Ulster)*

Backs:
Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians / Munster) Captain
Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians / Munster)*
Mairead Coyne (Galwegians / Connacht)
Aine Donnelly (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Mary Healy (Galwegians / Connacht)
Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union / Leinster)*
Jemma Jackson (Cooke / Ulster)*
Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians / Munster)
Claire McLaughlin (Cooke / Ulster)
Alison Miller (Old Belvedere / Connacht)
Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Sene Naoupu (Ayslesford Bulls)
Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere / Leinster)

*denotes uncapped player

Ireland Women's Coaching Team
Anthony Eddy – Director of Women's Rugby
Tom Tierney – Head Coach
Declan O'Brien – Assistant Coach
Derek Dowling – Scrum Coach

Ireland Women's Six Nations Fixtures 2017
Friday 3rd February
Scotland v Ireland, 6.35pm, Broadwood Stadium, Glasgow (Live on RTE)

Sunday 12th February
Italy v Ireland, 2pm (1pm GMT), Stadio Tommaso Fattori, L'Aquila (Live on RTE)

Sunday 26th February
Ireland v France, 12.45pm, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin (Live on RTE)

Saturday 11th March
Wales v Ireland, 11.30pm, BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff (Live on RTE)

Friday 17th March
Ireland v England, 8pm, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin (Live on RTE / Sky Sports)