Training Squad Announced for U18 Women’s Six Nations

A 35-player training squad will assemble at the IRFU High Performance Centre over the course of the next few weeks to prepare for the inaugural U18 Women’s Six Nations festival in Edinburgh.

Congratulations to the eight Munster players selected: Ellen Boylan (Carrick on Suir RFC), Grainne Burke (Ennis RFC), Beth Buttimer (Fethard RFC), Kate Flannery (Fethard RFC/WNTS), Ciara Fleming (Carrick on Suir RFC), Aimee Kelly (Bruff RFC), Lucia Linn (Dolphin RFC) and Rebecca Rodgers (Ballina-Killaloe RFC).

The training squad will participate in three camps across March and April before the festival squad is selected. The camps take place on March 19-20 and 26-27 and April 2-3 at the IRFU High Performance Centre on the Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin.

The festival promotes a learning environment for these young players and the coaches who are developing and honing their skills. Ireland will play 35-minute matches against England and France on Game Day 1 and a 70-minute match against Wales on Game Day 2.  The U18 Women’s Six Nations Festival will take place at Dam Health Stadium between April 9-17.

Katie Fitzhenry, IRFU Women’s Performance Pathway Performance Coach, commented, “There is a really good provincial mix across this group and from a variety of clubs around the country which reflects the great work that is happening at grassroots level. This group will experience a high performance environment as we build towards the Festival in Edinburgh in April.  We are really excited to get started and I am sure the girls will be too as they strive to pull on a green jersey for the first time.”

Ireland U18 Women’s Training Squad

Backs (17)

Grace Adams (Kings Hospital/Leinster)

Clara Barrett (Ballina RFC/Connacht)

Ellen Boylan (Carrick on Suir RFC/Munster)

Molly Boote (Connemara RFC/Connacht) WNTS

Grainne Burke (Ennis RFC/Munster)

Beth Buttimer (Fethard RFC/Munster)

Hannah Clarke (Tuam/Oughterard RFC/Connacht) WNTS

Katie Corrigan (Tullow/Leinster)

Alanna Fitzpatrick (Portarlington RFC/Leinster) WNTS

Kate Flannery (Fethard RFC/Munster) WNTS

Jade Gaffney (Navan RFC/Leinster)

Lucia Linn (Dolphin RFC/Munster)

Abby Moyles (Navan RFC/Leinster)

Eabha Nic Donncha (Corinthians RFC/Connacht) WNTS

Robyn O’Connor (Wexford RFC/Leinster)

Rebecca Rodgers (Ballina-Killaloe RFC/Munster)

Eva Sterrit (Greystones RFC/Leinster) WNTS

Forwards (18)

Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen RFC/Ulster) WNTS

Jorja Battishill (Malone RFC/Ulster)

Maebh Clenaghan (Letterkenny RFC/Ulster)

Isobel Clerk (Mullingar RFC/Leinster)

Sarah Delaney (Cill Dara RFC/Leinster)

Koren Dunne (Portlaoise RFC/Leinster)

Ciara Fleming (Carrick on Suir RFC/Munster)

Prudence Isacc (Arklow RFC/ Leinster)

Aimee Kelly (Bruff RFC/Munster)

Amy O’Mahony (Greystones RFC/Leinster)

Sarah McCormick (Ballina RFC/Connacht)

Aisling McEnroe (Virginia RFC/Ulster) WNTS

Sadhbh McGrath (City of Derry RFC/Ulster)

Jane Neill (Arklow RFC /Leinster)

Sarah Roberts (Donaghadee RFC/Ulster)

Karly Tierney (Tuam/Oughterard RFC/Connacht)

Orla Wafer (Enniscorthy RFC/Leinster)

Hannah Wilson (Cill Dara RFC/Leinster)