This is Griggs first year in charge of the side

Ten Munster players including the uncapped Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird of UL Bohemians along with seven of her UL Bohemians team mates have been included in the Irish preliminary squad for the upcoming Women’s Six Nations.

38 players are included from 10 different clubs, with Galwegians and Connacht forwards Laura Feelyand Edel McMahon and Blackrock captain and Leinster centre Michelle Claffey among the nine uncapped players who have made the cut.

Nine players who are part of the Ireland Women’s Sevens programme also feature. With the Sydney 7s taking place on January 27 and 28, players who are selected for this tournament will not be available for the first Six Nations game in France.

Recently appointed Ireland head coach Adam Griggs will name his captain in the New Year, upon completion of scheduled training camps. The squad will kick off the 2018 Championship against France at Toulouse’s Stade Ernest Wallon on Saturday, February 3, before playing three home matches at Donnybrook – Italy (February 11), Wales (February 25) and Scotland (March 11).

They will finish their Six Nations campaign away to defending champions England on Friday, March 16 in what will be a double header at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, with the Ireland Under-20s meeting their English counterparts after the Women’s game.

Griggs, who will take the squad to Wales for an uncapped warm-up fixture in January, said: “Over the course of the Interprovincial fixtures I’ve had the opportunity to see the players in competitive and challenging games, and it was very valuable for me to see them in action.

“There is good experience in the squad, with most of the players selected competing at this level for a number of seasons. In addition to those experienced players, there are also nine uncapped players named, and they’ve all earned their inclusion by performing well in the Interpro games and for the Irish Sevens.

“I’ve no doubt there will be good competition for places throughout the campaign. I’m excited to be working with these players and I’m looking forward to getting the campaign underway in what is set to be a tough opening game in the south of France.”

IRELAND WOMEN’S Squad (2018 Women’s Six Nations Championship):

Backs (20):

Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Nikki Caughey (Railway Union/Ulster)
Michelle Claffey (Blackrock/Leinster) *
Mairead Coyne (Galwegians/Connacht)
Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Jeamie Deacon (Blackrock/Leinster)
Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock/Leinster)
Kim Flood (Railway Union/Leinster)
Louise Galvin (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Mary Healy (Galwegians/Connacht)
Katie Heffernan (Railway Union/Leinster) *
Eve Higgins (Railway Union/Leinster) *
Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster)
Claire McLaughlin (Cooke/Ulster)
Alison Miller (Old Belvedere/Connacht)
Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird (UL Bohemians/Munster) *

Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Susan Vaughan (Railway Union/Leinster) *
Megan Williams (Old Belvedere/Leinster) *

Forwards (18):

Elaine Anthony (Highfield/Munster)
Ashleigh Baxter (Cooke/Ulster)
Anna Caplice (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Ciara Cooney (Railway Union/Leinster)
Laura Feely (Galwegians/Connacht) *
Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s/Leinster)
Orla Fitzsimons (St. Mary’s/Leinster)
Nichola Fryday (Tullamore/Connacht)
Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Leah Lyons (Highfield/Munster)
Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/Leinster) *
Edel McMahon ((Galwegians/Connacht) *
Claire Molloy (Bristol)
Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union/Leinster)
Ciara O’Connor (Galwegians/Connacht)
Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster)
Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians/Munster)

* Denotes uncapped player

IRELAND WOMEN – 2018 SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES:

France Women v Ireland Women, Stade Ernest Wallon, Toulouse, Saturday, February 3, 9pm local time/8pm Irish time

Ireland Women v Italy Women, Donnybrook, Sunday, February 11, 1pm.

Ireland Women v Wales Women, Donnybrook, Sunday, February 25, 3pm.

Ireland Women v Scotland Women, Donnybrook, Sunday, March 11, 1pm.

England Women v Ireland Women, Ricoh Arena, Coventry, Friday, March 16, 5.30pm.