6 UL Bohs players named in Womens Six Nations panel named

Munster and UL Bohs centre Niamh Briggs has missed out on selection for the Irish Womens Six Nations panel as Adam Griggs today announced a 29-strong squad for the competition.

The team does however include five UL Bohs players with the Irish team captained by Ciara Griffin while Enya Breen, Fiona Reidy, Laura Sheehan and Eimear Considine have all been selected.

Ireland play an uncapped Six Nations warm-up fixture against Wales at Energia Park in Donnybrook (kick-off 1pm) in preparation for what promises to be gruelling tournament.

Griggs has given call ups to 8 uncapped players with Linda Djougang,Anne Marie O’Hora, Hannah O’Connor and Claire Boles featuring in the forwards, while Kathryn Dane, Claire Keohane, Ailbhe Dowling and Enya Breen are picked among the backs.

Speaking to IrishRugby.ie ahead of this weekend’s match, Adam Griggs said:

“We have had two very productive training camps since Christmas and the players have been working hard to make sure we carry on from the good performance we had in our last autumn international against England in Twickenham.

“While we didn’t get the result we were after in that game the players took a big step in terms of their development and now have a feel for what is required at international level.

“It’s great to get a warm-up fixture for the Six Nations of this quality where we will be able to try out some new combinations and really test ourselves in what we have been doing in camp together.

“We are missing some key players who are unavailable to us due to injury which is unfortunate and not ideal at the start of the Six Nations, but it is a chance to give some very talented new faces an opportunity to put their hands up and show us they can compete at international level.”

The Ireland Women get their Six Nations campaign underway against England at Energia Park on Friday, February 1 (kick-off 5pm). The two-for-one ticket offer has been extended – buy yours now on ticketmaster.ie.

IRELAND WOMEN’S Squad (v Wales, Women’s Six Nations Warm-Up Match, Energia Park, Donnybrook, Sunday, January 20, kick-off 1pm):

Claire Boles (Railway Union/Ulster) *
Enya Breen (UL Bohemians/Munster) *
Michelle Claffey (Blackrock/Leinster)
Anna Caplice (Richmond)
Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere/Ulster) *
Lauren Delany (Firwood Waterloo Ladies/IQ Rugby)
Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster) *
Ailbhe Dowling (Old Belvedere/Leinster) *
Laura Feely (Galwegians/Connacht)
Nicole Fowley (Galwegians/Connacht)
Nichola Fryday (Galwegians/Connacht)
Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt)
Emma Hooban (St. Mary’s/Leinster)
Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster)
Claire Keohane (Railway Union/Munster) *
Leah Lyons (Harlequins)
Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/Leinster)
Claire McLaughlin (Old Belvedere/Ulster)
Alison Miller (Old Belvedere/Connacht)
Claire Molloy (Wasps)
Ellen Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock/Leinster) *
Anne Marie O’Hora (Galwegians/Connacht) *
Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Laura Sheehan (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Juliet Short (Railway Union/Leinster)
Megan Williams (Old Belvedere/Leinster)