Greg McWilliams has added seven players to his Ireland squad for the remainder of the 2022 Women's Six Nations Championship, replacing the seven who have returned to the Sevens squad .
The new group of 33 met at the IRFU high performance centre on Saturday for a one-day camp ahead of this weekend’s match against England in Leicester.
Laura Feely, Laura Sheehan, Mary Healy, Shannon Touhy, Sene Naoupu and the uncapped Leinster pair of Niamh Byrne and Alice O’Dowd have been called up, with the final two rounds of the Six Nations providing McWilliams and his coaching staff with the opportunity to further expose players to Test rugby and build squad depth.
Sam Monaghan and Aoife Wafer are both unavailable for selection this week through injury.
While, following a selection meeting between McWilliams and Sevens head coach Aiden McNulty last week, Stacey Flood, Lucy Mulhall, Anna McGann, Eve Higgins, Brittany Hogan, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe and Beibhinn Parsons have re-integrated back into the Ireland Sevens programme ahead of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series’ return in Langford from April 30th-May 1st.
The extended Ireland squad will travel to Leicester on Thursday morning: “We had a really productive camp on Saturday, during which we got through a good body of work both on and off the pitch,” McWilliams said. “Unfortunately we will be without both Sam and Aoife through injuries this weekend.
“David (Nucifora), Aiden (McNulty) and myself have been in regular communication over selection and we feel we have the right balance for this window, knowing that there are further development opportunities coming up for the XVs squad, with plans at an advanced stage for a two-Test Summer Tour in August, and the important qualification tournaments facing the Sevens programme over the same period.
“There are a number of players who have had to be patient during the first three rounds of the Six Nations and they now have an opportunity to stake a claim for the green jersey. We have a good group of players in camp with us now, a nice mixture of experience and players who have impressed me during the Energia All-Ireland League season, and coming off the back of our win over Italy, are determined to finish the Championship with strong performances.”
McWilliams will name his Ireland matchday 23 to face England on Friday lunchtime.
Ireland Women’s squad
Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union RFC/Leinster), Alice O’Dowd (UCD/Leinster), Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht), Aoife McDermott (Railway Union RFC/Leinster), Aoife Doyle (Railway Union RFC/Munster), Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College RFC/Munster), Edel McMahon (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Eimear Considine (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Emma Hooban (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Enya Breen (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Grace Moore (Railway Union RFC/IQ Rugby), Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster), Katie O’Dwyer (Railway Union RFC/Leinster), Laura Feely (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht), Laura Sheehan (Exeter Chiefs/IQ Rugby), Linda Djougang (ASM Romagnat Rugby/Leinster), Maeve Óg O’Leary (Blackrock College RFC/Munster), Mary Healy (Naas/Suttonians/Leinster), Michelle Claffey (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Railway Union RFC/Leinster), Natasja Behan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury/Ulster), Niamh Byrne (Railway Union RFC/Leinster), Nichola Fryday (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht)(Captain), Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Nikki Caughey (Railway Union RFC/Leinster), Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Shannon Touhey (Tullamore/Connacht), Vicky Irwin (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby).
