ULSTER Rugby Senior Women’s Head Coach, Murray Houston, has named his squad for the upcoming 2025/26 Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship.
A 35-player squad has been confirmed for the 2025/26 season, Hooker India Daley has been named captain, with Brenda Barr appointed as vice-captain.
A powerhouse in the last interprovincial campaign, Daley showed her skill, scoring two tries in two games against Munster and Connacht. India will be bringing a great deal of experience and leadership to the captaincy, having been previously capped with Ireland and the Wolfhounds. With her home club, Daley is no stranger to success, notably lifting the Women’s Junior Cup with Enniskillen in 2024. Daley also proudly serves as an ambassador for the Ulster Rugby Foundation.
On being made captain, India remarks “It’s an incredible honour to be named captain of Ulster Women this season. Representing my home province has always meant a lot to me, so to now lead the team is something I’m really proud of. I feel lucky to be part of such a special group who are building year on year.”
“We’ve got so much talent and potential in this squad, I want us to back ourselves every time we step onto the pitch. We know that we are capable of more than what we have shown in recent seasons, and we want to prove that in the upcoming interpro campaign.”
Speaking on the squad, Head Coach, Murray Houston gave his thoughts. “It’s an exciting time of the year as we get ready to step into the interprovincial championship. With it being a Rugby World Cup year, all of those Ulster players involved in the Ireland squad will not be involved in the interpros. The World Cup will be a great spectacle, particularly for fans across the provinces, with Ireland squad’s great form of late. We wish all those Ulster representatives and the rest of the Ireland squad the best of luck.
With the absence of the RWC hopefuls, it presents an opportunity for players who may not have had the chance previously. There are 9 players in our squad who will be looking to get the first cap this summer.
India is a great leader on and off the pitch, with her commitment and drive. She and all those involved in the squad understand the great privilege it is to be competing for Ulster.
We have had some great moments in the last couple of years and have generated some real excitement about women’s rugby in Ulster. The hard work is about to go up a notch for us to be genuine competitors and provide some real entertainment.”
Several players join the squad on the back of domestic success this year are Katie Hetherington and Siobhan Sheerin, having both been a part of the Clogher Valley squad that lifted the Suzanne Fleming Cup this March at Kingspan Stadium. This marks Sheerin’s first call up to the Ulster Rugby Senior Women’s squad.
Players from Queen’s University have also made their mark this year, with Maebh Clenaghan, Bronach Cassidy, Ellen Patterson, Rachael McIlroy, Ruby Starrett and Sarah Roberts, helping their team secure the Women’s Junior Cup title in a final against Malone, also held at Kingspan Stadium.
There are eight new call-ups to this year’s squad. Joining Sheerin are, Sophie McAllister, Katie Gilmour, Farrah Cartin-McCloskey, Georgia Boyce, Rebecca Beacom, Erin McConalogue, and Cara McLean.
Erin McConalogue, Sophie McAllister and Cara McLean were all involved in the Ulster U18 Girls’ squad last summer, making their senior debut this season. All three players have had a great season, with Sophie receiving a call up for the Wolfhounds, and Erin and Cara both donning a green jersey in the U18 Women’s Six Nations. Cara was the skipper in the Six Nations campaign, leading Ireland to huge victories over England, Italy and Scotland. Cara then went on to win the Ulster Rugby Girls Youth Player of the Year award.
Another award winner, Lucy Thompson returns, having picked up the Ulster Rugby Young Women’s Player of the Year award, after an impressive performance in last year’s interprovincial campaign.
A welcome return comes in the form of Niamh Marley, an exciting player that unfortunately suffered a knee injury ahead of last season. It will be good to see her back in the white jersey.
Ulster Senior Women’s Squad 2025/26
Forwards
Aishling O’Connell
Ava Fannin
Brenda Barr (VC)
Bronach Cassidy
Cara McLean*
Christy Hill
Ellen Patterson
India Daley (C)
Katie Hetherington
Keelin Brady
Lauren Maginnes
Maebh Clenaghan
Megan Simpson
Moya Hill
Rebecca Beacom
Ruby Starrett*
Sarah Roberts
Sophie Barrett
Sophie McAlister*
Stacey Sloan
Backs
Abby Moyles
Catherine Martin
Erin McConalogue*
Farrah Cartin McCloskey*
Georgia Boyce*
Katie Gilmour*
Kelly McCormill
Lauren Farrell-McCabe
Lucy Thompson
Niamh Marley
Paige Smyth
Rachael McIlroy
Siobhan Sheerin*
Sophie Meeke
Tara O’Neill
*denotes uncapped player ahead of the 2025/26 season.
Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Murray Houston
Contact Skills Coach: Neill Alcorn
Defence Coach: Eric O’Sullivan
AD Coach: Kevin Gallagher
Team Manager: Marianne Breen
Physio: Martin Dunlop
