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Ireland name 32-Player Squad For TikTok Women's Six Nations
By Lucy Lomax
Ireland Women's Head Coach Greg McWilliams has today named a 32-player Ireland squad for the TikTok Women’s Six Nations, with the 2023 tournament creeping closer, kicking off on Saturday 25th March.
Eight uncapped players have been included in the squad following the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship and the recently concluded Celtic Challenge tournament.
Uncapped forwards Niamh O’Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath, Fiona Tuite and Molly Boyne are named after impressing for the Combined Provinces XV during Ireland's unbeaten Celtic Challenge campaign, while uncapped IQ Rugby duo Kathryn Buggy and Clara Neilson are also included.
There are two uncapped backs in the squad, including Harlequins scrum-half Emma Swords and Ella Roberts who was another star of the Celtic Challenge campaign.
Exeter Chiefs' Nichola Fryday will once again skipper the side from the second row.
Ireland open their Championship with two tough fixtures, kicking off their campaign against Wales away at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday, 25 March (kick-off 2.15pm), before facing France at Musgrave Park in Cork on Saturday 1st April (kick-off 3.15pm).
They then face Italy away in Parma, England at home in Cork and finish the tournament against Scotland at the DAM Health Stadium in Edinburgh on Saturday 29th April (kick-off 7.30pm).
Head Coach McWilliams has confirmed his coaching team for the 2023 Championship with Niamh Briggs (Backs Coach) and Denis Fogarty (Scrum Coach) continuing in their roles alongside John McKee (Senior Coach).
Ireland Squad:
Forwards (18):
Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)*
Sadhbh McGrath (City of Derry/Cooke RFC/Ulster)*
Kathryn Buggy (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ Rugby)*
Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury/Ulster)
Clara Nielson (Exeter Chiefs/IQ Rugby)*
Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird (Old Belvedere RFC/Munster)
Nichola Fryday (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht) (Captain)
Sam Monaghan (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ Rugby)
Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)*
Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)
Grace Moore (Saracens/IQ Rugby)
Maeve Óg O’Leary (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)
Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht)
Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)
Molly Boyne (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)*
Backs (14):
Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
Emma Swords (Harlequins/IQ Rugby)*
Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)
Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)
Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Vicky Irwin (Sale Sharks/Ulster)
Méabh Deely (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)
Aoife Doyle (Railway Union RFC/Munster)
Natasja Behan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Ella Roberts (Wicklow RFC/Leinster)*
Lauren Delany (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby)
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Latest Comments
Very naughty boy!
Go to comments"Interestingly its you who now seem to be renouncing the UEFA style points system, because you don't like the outcome of reducing URC representation."
No, as I have clearly written and no need to be a "mind reader" this time, I don't like the outcome that half of the teams will be from Top14...
"What about 4 each + 4 to the best performing teams in last years competition not to have otherwise qualified?"
Because I don't think that having the possibility of a team finishing outside the quarter finals to qualify automatically will be a good idea. I'd rather have a team finishing 5th in their domestic league.
"Or what about a UEFA style system where places are allocated to leagues on the basis of their performance in previous years' competitions?"
You mean like the option I suggested like 3 times now? 😜 That will lead to have half of team from top14 and the end of the tournament.
"There's no point including Black Lion if they're just going to get whitewashed every year"
I genuinely disagree with that. I do think it's a decent team and are not doing too badly in the challenge cup.
"Maybe the best placed non-Israeli team and the Russian winners could play off every year for the spot?"
Based on the current geopolitics I won't bet on this happening anytime soon 😉
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