FOUR Ulster players have been included by Head Coach Scott Bemand in his 35-player Ireland squad for the Guinness Women’s Six Nations, as preparations get underway for the 2024 campaign opener away to France on Saturday, March 23.
The four are Claire Boles, Brittany Hogan, Neve Jones and Sadhbh McGrath.
In addition, Ulster’s India Daley has been selected for a wider training panel.
Following the successful WXV3 Tournament in Dubai and the current Celtic Challenge series, Bemand and the Ireland coaching team have confirmed their panel for the upcoming Championship, with eight uncapped players included in the squad.
Ruth Campbell and Katie Whelan, who were part of the WXV3 squad, as well as Chisom Ugwuere, Katie Corrigan, Katie Heffernan and Clare Gorman have all impressed in this year’s Celtic Challenge campaign earn a first Ireland call up, while uncapped IQ Rugby duo Andrea Stock and Shannon Ikahihifo are also included.
Having assumed the co-captaincy role for the WXV3 tournament in Dubai, Sam Monaghan and Edel McMahon will once again lead the side for the 2024 Guinness Women’s Six Nations Championship.
There are five players named in the squad who have featured on the HSBC sevens series for Ireland this year, including Béibhinn Parsons, Eve Higgins and Aoibheann Reilly who were all part of Ireland’s historic title win in Perth back in January.
In addition to the 35 players included in the squad, Bemand has named seven players in a wider training panel who will also assemble at the IRFU High Performance Centre when camp commences on Monday, February 26. They are India Daley, Kate Flannery, Hannah O’Connor, Maeve Óg O’Leary, Ivanna Kiripati, Leah Tarpey and Kayla Waldron.
Ireland open their Championship away to France at Stade Marie-Marvingt on Saturday, March 23 (kick-off 3.15pm, live on RTÉ), before facing Italy at home in the RDS on Easter Sunday, March 31 (kick-off 3pm, live on RTÉ).
After a down week, the campaign resumes with another home game, in Virgin Media Park in Cork against Wales on Saturday, April 13 (kick-off 4.45pm, live on Virgin Media), and then Bemands’ side are away to England in Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, April 20 (kick-off 2.15pm, live on Virgin Media).
Ireland conclude the Championships at home in Kingspan Stadium, Belfast against Scotland on Saturday, April 27 (kick-off 2.30pm, live on RTÉ).
Commenting on the squad announcement, Head Coach Scott Bemand said: “We are excited for this group of players who will represent Ireland in the upcoming Guinness Women’s Six Nations. The WXV3 and the Celtic Challenge preparation has been vital for our development and expanding our player pool. On the back of the success of the Women’s Sevens side, we are chasing potential through this group of players and we are all looking to perform in a high quality competition.
“With three home games in Ireland, we are looking forward to connecting with the fan base and playing in front of home crowds in Dublin, Cork and Belfast and would urge everyone to get behind the team and show their support for the Women’s team”
Bemand has also confirmed his Coaching Team for the 2024 Championship, Declan Danaher (Defence Coach) joins the coaching panel as Denis Fogarty (Scrum Coach) and Larissa Muldoon (Assistant Backs & Attack Coach) continue in their roles alongside John McKee (Senior Coach).
Claire Boles
Ireland Squad – Guinness Women’s Six Nations 2024
Forwards (19):
Claire Boles (Railway Union RFC/Ulster)
Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)*
Megan Collis (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
Eimear Corri (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Sarah Delaney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)
Shannon Ikahihifo (Ealing Trailfinders/IQ Rugby)*
Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury/Ulster)
Sadhbh McGrath (MU Barnhall/Cooke RFC/Ulster)
Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht) (Co-Captain)
Grace Moore (Saracens/IQ Rugby)
Sam Monaghan (Gloucester-Hartpury) (Co-Captain)
Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Andrea Stock (Ealing Trailfinders/IQ Rugby)*
Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)
Backs (16):
Natasja Behan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Enya Breen (Blackrock College/Munster)
Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)*
Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Méabh Deely (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)
Lauren Delany (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby)
Nicole Fowley (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
Clare Gorman (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)*
Katie Heffernan (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)*
Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)
Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)
Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
Chisom Ugwueru (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)*
Katie Whelan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)*
Training Panellists (7):
India Daley (Blackrock College RFC/Ulster)*
Kate Flannery (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)*
Ivana Kiripati (Tuam-Oughterard/Connacht)*
Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Maeve Óg O’Leary (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)
Leah Tarpey (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
Kayla Waldron (Railway Union RFC/Connacht)*
*Denotes uncapped players
Ireland Coaching Team and Management
Scott Bemand – Head Coach
John McKee – Senior Coach
Declan Danaher – Defence Coach
Denis Fogarty – Scrum Coach
Larissa Muldoon – Assistant Backs and Attack Coach (World Rugby Intern)
Elaine Ryan – Team Manager
Roisin Murphy – National Team Physio
Matt Cosgrove – Team Doctor
Cian O’Brien – Performance Analyst
Ed Slattery – Head of Athletic Performance
Greg Hollins – Athletic Performance Assistant
Emma Brennan – Performance Nutritionist
Andy Weir – Baggage Master
Sean Ryan – High Performance Culture and Leadership Lead
Lisa Doyle – Media and Communications
Ireland Fixtures
Saturday, March 23: France v Ireland, Stade Marie-Marvingt, 3.15pm (Irish time) (Live on RTÉ).
Sunday, March 31: Ireland v Italy, the RDS, 3pm (Live on RTÉ).
Saturday, April 13: Ireland v Wales, Musgrave Park, 4.45pm (Live on Virgin Media).
Saturday, April 2o: England v Ireland, Twickenham, 2.15pm (Live on Virgin Media).
Saturday, April 27: Ireland v Scotland, Kingspan Stadium, 2.30pm (Live on RTÉ).
Brittany Hogan
