By March 20, Ireland Women could well have created something truly memorable.
Under Philip ‘Goose’ Doyle, in 2013, Ireland won their first ever Grand Slam. Two years later and they racked up a huge, final day scoreline to capture their second ever Six Nations championship.
The fixture list is not the kindest to Tom Tierney’s side but another solid campaign could see them retain the championship for the first time in their history.
This afternoon, Tierney named the defending champion’s squad for the 2016 staging of the competition. There are seven uncapped players included [Full squad below].
Tralee and Munster players Zoe Grattage and Ciara Griffin are joined by Tralee teammate Ciara O’Connor, who plays provincially with Connacht and St.Mary’s. Connacht flanker Grainne Egan rounds out the uncapped players in the pack.
In the backs, U.L Bohs and Munster wing Liz Burke and centres Elise O’Byrne-White (Old Belvedere and Leinster) and Claire McLaughlin (Queen’s University and Ulster) are also newcomers. Tierney says:
“There is a nice blend of youth and experience and the vibe in the camp has been very positive over the last few weeks.
“We’ve had the opportunity to see a lot of the girls play and we’ve looked at a number of combinations. The newer members of the squad are doing really well, so we’re looking forward to getting the campaign underway against Wales in Donnybrook and seeing what the girls can do.”
At Wednesday’s championship launch, Ireland captain Niamh Briggs looked forward to Ireland’s February 6 opener:
IRELAND WOMEN
Forwards
Elaine Anthony (Munster / Highfield)
Ciara Cooney (Leinster / Railway Union)
Ailis Egan (Leinster/ Old Belvedere)
Grainne Egan (Connacht / St.Mary’s)*
Paula Fitzpatrick (Leinster / Stade Toulousain)
Orla Fitzsimons (Leinster / St.Mary’s)
Zoe Grattage (Munster / Tralee)*
Ciara Griffin (Munster / Tralee)*
Claire Molloy (Bristol)
Cliodhna Moloney (Leinster / Railway Union)
Heather O’Brien (Munster / Stade Toulousain)
Fiona O’Brien (Leinster/ Old Belvedere)
Ciara O’Connor (Connacht / Tralee)*
Ruth O’Reilly (Connacht / Galwegians)
Lindsay Peat (Leinster / Railway Union)
Fiona Reidy (Munster / U.L Bohemians)
Marie-Louise Reilly (Leinster / Old Belvedere)
Sophie Spence (Leinster/ Old Belvedere)
Backs
Niamh Briggs (Munster / U.L Bohemians)
Liz Burke (Munster / U.L Bohemians)*
Nikki Caughey (Ulster / Railway Union)
Mairead Coyne (Connacht / Galwegians)
Aine Donnelly (Leinster/ Cill Dara)
Mary Healy (Connacht / Galwegians)
Claire McLaughlin (Ulster / Queen’s University)*
Larissa Muldoon (Skewen)
Sene Naoupu (Connacht / Galwegians)
Elise O’Byrne-White (Leinster/ Old Belvedere)*
Jackie Shiels (Richmond)
Nora Stapleton (Leinster / Old Belvedere)
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