Ireland Women’s Sevens Squad Named For European Championship

The Ireland Women’s Sevens Squad to compete in the FIRA/AER European Women’s Championship in Ghent this weekend has been announced.

The 13 woman squad includes six Munster players. Five, from current Women’s All-Ireland Champions, UL Bohemians while Division 2 winners, Tralee have one representative.

This tournament is the first round qualifier for the IRB Women’s Rugby 7’s World Cup which will be held in Moscow in 2012.

The squad have had a successful warm up in recent weeks, winning the Kinsale 7s, the RugbyRocks 7s in London and the plate final at the Amsterdam 7s.

Ireland will begin their qualification campaign in Ghent where they will face opposition from Czech Republic, Poland, Israel and host country Belgium in Pool B. Should they secure a top two finish, they will progress to the final European qualifying tournament in Moscow from June 28th – July 1st. From this, the top five teams will advance to the World Championships in 2013.

Speaking about the Women’s Sevens programme that started in May, head coach Jon Skurr said, “I am extremely pleased with the progress of the squad to date. Whilst we have only had a short time together, the players have shown massive commitment and a very strong work ethic which has been instrumental in our success so far.

“Belgium will be very much going into the unknown in terms of the teams we are up against but I am confident that we can do the job required and progress to the next level.”

Ireland Women's Sevens Squad (FIRA/AER European Women's 7s, Ghent, Belgium, June 9th/June10th)

Ashleigh Baxter – (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Lynne Cantwell – (Richmond/Exiles)
Amy Davis – (Blackrock/Leinster)
Jeannette Feighery – (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Ashling Hutchings – (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Niamh Kavanagh – (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Claire Keohane – (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Alison Miller – (Portlaoise/Connacht)
Claire Molloy – (Bristol/Connacht) Captain
Jennifer Murphy – (Richmond/Exiles)
Joy Neville – (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Laura O’Mahony (Tralee/Munster)
Sophie Spence –(Sharks/ Exiles)

FIRA/AER EC7s Fixtures

Satuday June 9th:
Ireland v Czech Republic, 11am
Belgium v Ireland, 2pm
Poland v Ireland, 4pm

Sunday June 10th:
Israel v Ireland, 11:40 am