Seven Munster Women Selected For RWC

Ireland Women’s Head Coach Philip Doyle today announced his squad for the forthcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup in France this August.

Seven Munster women have been included on the squad of 26 which sees five forwards and two backs named.

UL Bohemian hooker Gillian Bourke has been selected in the forwards and will join her club colleague, prop Fiona Hayes.

Highfield and Munster captain, backrow forward Heather O’Brien has also been named in the forwards along with fellow Highfield player Laura Guest and Munster Player of the Year Siobhán Fleming from Tralee RFC.

Forty one time Ireland capped full-back Niamh Briggs from UL Bohemian will also to travel to France along with Bohs' winger Niamh Kavanagh.

Speaking of the selection, Head Coach, Philip Doyle said "We have just come off the back of three weekends of intensive training and unfortunately we had to cut the squad to just 26 players which has been difficult. Everybody applied themselves brilliantly and I would like to congratulate all for their involvement.”

"Women's Rugby is at an all-time high in Ireland and with that comes great expectation. We are well placed for the tournament and are all looking forward to heading to France and getting started”

Ireland women are placed in Pool B with USA, defending Champions New Zealand and Kazakhstan.

Their opening match will begin on the 1st of August with a tough encounter against USA whom Ireland played twice in the previous Women's Rugby World Cup.

To view full list of fixtures click here

TG4 have confirmed they are to broadcast Ireland's pool games live as well as both semi-finals and finals. Ireland's game against New Zealand will be televised live on Sky Sports.

Tickets for the games can be purchased from http://www.ticketmaster.fr/en/liste/idlist/45/idtier/1493223

Ireland Women Rugby World Cup Squad – August 1st – 17th, France 2014

Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster)
Kerrie Ann Craddock (Saracens/Exiles)
Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Orla Fitzsimons (St Mary's College/Leinster)
Siobhan Fleming (Tralee/Munster)
Laura Guest (Highfield/Munster)
Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Sharon Lynch (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht)
Heather O'Brien (Highfield RFC/Munster)
Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Lynne Cantwell (Richmond RFC/Exile)
Hannah Casey (Saracens/Exiles)
Grace Davitt (Cooke/Ulster)
Paula Fitzpatrick (St Mary's College/Leinster)
Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht)
Larissa Muldoon (Bristol/Exile)
Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Tania Rosser (Blackrock/Leinster)
Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Jackie Shiels (Richmond RFC/Exile)

Ireland Women's Rugby World Cup Fixtures –
Pool Games –
Fri, 1st August, USA v Ireland
Tue, 5th August, New Zealand v Ireland
Sat 9th August, Ireland v Kazakhstan

Playoffs –
Wed, 13th August
Sun, 17th August