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Scott Bemand selects 30-player Ireland training squad for WXV3 competition

Scott Bemand has announced a 30-player Ireland training squad for the WXV3 competition in Dubai next month.

Bemand has chosen an extended group of players to gather for a camp at the IRFU High Performance Centre on Sunday, September 10, in preparation for the three-game WXV3 campaign scheduled for October.

Among the forwards, Fiona Tuite, Sarah Delany, and Siobhan McCarthy have their names in the panel. Meanwhile, young backs Clara Barrett and Katie Whelan earn their initial call-ups to the senior squad.

Delany, Barrett, and Whelan are among the five players included who represented Ireland Women’s U20s during their tour to Italy in June. The likes of Béibhinn Parsons and Eve Higgins bring significant experience to the squad. Both helped Ireland secure Olympic qualification last year.

Six more players have also been selected – Eimear Corri, India Daley, Kayla Waldron, Leah Tarpey, Megan Collis, and Ruth Campbell – to train in the preparatory camps.

New Women’s Head Coach Scott Bemand has today named a 30-player Ireland training squad ahead of the inaugural WXV3 competition in Dubai ⬇️#IrishRugby

— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) August 30, 2023

Commenting on the squad announcement, Bemand said: “After settling into the role in recent weeks and connecting with many of the players and staff, it is exciting to announce our WXV3 training squad. There have been a number of impressive performances during the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship, and the Coaching Team believes we have selected an exciting blend of youth and experience for the competition ahead."

“We will assemble as a wider group in two weeks as we narrow the focus on our opening game against Kazakhstan in Dubai. There is a lot of hard work ahead, but there is exciting potential within the squad, and now is our opportunity to start on the right trajectory, targeting growth and progression as we build into the campaign and indeed the 2023/24 season ahead.”

Ireland's WXV3 campaign will begin against Kazakhstan on Friday, October 13, followed by a match against Colombia at The Sevens Stadium on Saturday, October 21. The competition concludes with a game against Spain on Saturday, October 28.

Details of WXV3 broadcast arrangements will be confirmed by World Rugby at a later date.

Ireland Women’s Training Squad:

Forwards: Aoife Wafer, Brittany Hogan, Christy Haney, Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird, Dorothy Wall, Edel McMahon, Fiona Tuite, Grace Moore, Kathryn Buggy, Linda Djougang, Maeve Óg O’Leary, Neve Jones, Niamh O’Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath, Sam Monaghan, Sarah Delaney, Siobhán McCarthy.

Backs: Aoibheann Reilly, Aoife Dalton, Aoife Doyle, Béibhinn Parsons, Clara Barrett, Dannah O’Brien, Eve Higgins, Katie Whelan, Méabh Deely, Molly Scuffil-McCabe, Nicole Fowley, Natasja Behan, Vicky Irwin.

Additional Players: Eimear Corri, India Daley Cooke, Kayla Waldron, Leah Tarpey, Megan Collis, Ruth Campbell.