Getting To Know | Munster Players In Ireland Women’s Side

Three current Munster women and two former Munster players have been included in the Ireland squad for their opening 6 Nations fixture against England at Donnybrook on Friday (5pm).

Ciara Griffin captains the side with Eimear Considine on the wing and Fiona Reidy named in the front row – former Munster duo Leah Lyons and Anna Caplice are named in the front row and on the bench respectively.

Find out more about the Munster players that will feature against England below.

Ciara Griffin

Ireland captain Ciara Griffin started her rugby career at Castleisland RFC before moving onto Tralee RFC and then current club UL Bohemian RFC.

The flanker made her international debut in the 2016 Six Nations against Wales having progressed through Munster underage and senior sides.

The 25-year-old flanker quickly established herself as a fixture in the Ireland team and was named squad captain 12 months ago.

Eimear Considine

Winger Eimear Considine represented her native county Clare in Gaelic Football and Camogie before starting her rugby career in the Ireland Sevens side.

Considine was then drafted into the Munster side for the 2016 Interpro Championship before making her Ireland debut in the 2017 6 Nations.

Also playing in the Women’s AIL with UL Bohemians, Considine is a key player on the national side.

Fiona Reidy

Prop Fiona Reidy started playing rugby as a teenager at the University of Limerick and captained the university team for three years while also playing AIL rugby with Bohs.

After progressing into the Munster senior side, Reidy claimed her first Interprovincial title in 2010 before moving to Abu Dhabi to teach where she took up sevens rugby.

After returning to Ireland, Reidy made her international debut against England in November 2015.

Leah Lyons

Former Highfield and Munster prop Lyons hails from Ballyhooley in Cork and is currently playing in England with Harlequins.

The 24-year-old started playing rugby at Fermoy RFC and made her senior Munster debut in 2013.

Lyons has also previously worked for the Munster Rugby Development Department and made her international debut in November 2016.

Anna Caplice

Now playing with Richmond RFC in London, Dromore back-row forward Caplice started her rugby career at school before joining Mallow RFC and quickly progressing into the Munster underage system.

Caplice began playing Women’s AIL rugby with UL Bohemians and made a big impact at the club, winning their Player of the Year award in 2009.

Munster senior honours followed and after a spell with the Ireland Women’s 7s team, Caplice made her senior international debut in November 2016.

Read the Ireland Women’s team announcement v England Women, Friday 1 February, Donnybrook, 5pm.