Greg McWilliams, Ireland's head coach, today announced his 32-player roster for the TikTok Women's Six Nations. Eight uncapped players have been included in the squad.
Forwards Niamh O’Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath, Fiona Tuite, Molly Boyne, Kathryn Buggy and Clara Neilson are included.
Ella Roberts and Emma Swords also make McWilliams panel.
Nichola Fryday will once again captain the side
Twelve players from a larger training panel, in addition to the 32 members of the Six Nations team, have been named by McWilliams and will meet this weekend for a two-day camp at the IRFU High Performance Centre. Mary Healy, Megan Collis, Andrea Stock, Emma Hooban, India Daley, Claire Bennett, Katie Whelan, Leah Tarpey, Kayla Waldron, Ella Durkan, Clare Gorman, and Aoife Corey will attend the camp.
Ireland captain Fryday said today, “We’re really excited to get the Six Nations underway, as it will be our first campaign together as a group since the Tour of Japan, which provided us with an invaluable platform to build together as a squad moving forward.
“The Celtic Challenge has granted so many players access to quality game time in recent weeks, and this coupled with the game time the UK-based players have had in the Premiership in recent months, will serve us well moving into the opening Rounds of the Six Nations.
Introducing the 32-player Ireland Squad for the upcoming TikTok Women's Six Nations! 🟢#NothingLikeIt | #IrishRugby
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) February 28, 2023
“It is always an exciting time of year and we’re hugely motivated as a group to build on the positive aspects of last season and continue to grow and evolve under Greg and the coaching team. It is brilliant to see eight uncapped players come into the group, as we are always striving to build squad depth and the value of the Women’s Interprovincial Championship and Celtic Challenge is there for all to see.
“We are really looking forward to returning to Cork for two huge home matches, as the support we received at Musgrave Park last year was incredible.”
Ireland will start their campaign against Wales away from home on March 25.
A week later Ireland welcome France to Musgrave Park in Cork on Saturday, April 1.
The Irish side will then head to Parma to face Italy Saturday, April 15.
Ireland will then face England in Cork for an April 22 showdown.
They close out the campaign with a game against Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday, April 29.
Tickets for Ireland’s home matches at Musgrave Park are available to buy via Ticketmaster.ie here.
Ireland Squad, TikTok Women’s Six Nations:
Forwards (18):
Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)*
Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster)*
Kathryn Buggy (Gloucester-Hartbury/IQ Rugby)*
Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartbury/Ulster)
Clara Nielson (Exeter Chiefs/IQ Rugby)*
Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird (Old Belvedere RFC/Munster)
Nichola Fryday (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht)(captain)
Sam Monaghan (Gloucester-Hartbury/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).
Ireland Coaching Team and Management:
Greg McWilliams – Head Coach
John McKee – Senior Coach
Alana Gattinger – Programme Manager
Denis Fogarty – Scrum Coach
Niamh Briggs – Backs Coach
Andy Weir – Baggage Master
Emma Brennan – Performance Nutritionist
Roisin Murphy – National Team Physio
Matt Cosgrove – Team Doctor
Cian O’Brien – Performance Analyst
Ed Slattery – Head of Athletic Performance
Ryan Bailey – Media and Communications.
Ireland Fixtures:
Wales v Ireland, Saturday 25 March, Cardiff Arms Park, 2.15pm
Ireland v France, Saturday 1 April, Musgrave Park, 3.15pm
Italy v Ireland, Saturday 15 April, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, 4.45pm
Ireland v England, Saturday 22 April, Musgrave Park, 2.15pm
Scotland v Ireland, Saturday 29 April, DAM Health Stadium, 7.30pm
Ireland Coaching Team and Management:
Greg McWilliams – Head Coach
John McKee – Senior Coach
Alana Gattinger – Programme Manager
Denis Fogarty – Scrum Coach
Niamh Briggs – Backs Coach
Andy Weir – Baggage Master
Emma Brennan – Performance Nutritionist
Roisin Murphy – National Team Physio
Matt Cosgrove – Team Doctor
Cian O’Brien – Performance Analyst
Ed Slattery – Head of Athletic Performance
Ryan Bailey – Media and Communication
See More: Ireland, Rugby, TikTok Women’s Six Nations I
