Limerick’s Stephanie Nunan headed to France with U-18 Ireland Sevens Squad

The Ireland squad for the Rugby Europe Under-18 Women’s Sevens Championship in Vichy, France has been announced. The tournament takes place on Saturday and Sunday.

St. Mary’s/Munster’s Stephanie Nunan has come into a squad that shows three changes from the one that won the UK School Games tournament at Loughborough University earlier this month. Nunan who is on the Munster under 18s rugby squad has also captained the Limerick minor footballers this season.

The teenage rugby star attended Ard Scoil Mhuire, Corbally before going on to study Sport, Coaching and Development at third level.

Anna Doyle (Tullow/Leinster) and Kelly McCormill (Monaghan/Ulster) have also received a call up.

Mallow and Munster’s Emily Lane captains the side, while Dorothy Wall of Fethard RFC completes the Munster representatives in the squad.

The side is coached by Ireland Women’s Sevens captain Lucy Mulhall, with fellow Sevens senior international Elaine Ryan as the team manager.

The Munster trio of Lane, Nunan and Enya Breen were part of the Ireland squad that competed in last year’s Rugby Europe Championship in Vichy. Saturday will see Mulhall’s side play Italy, hosts France and Sweden in Pool A.

Speaking ahead of the squad’s departure, Mulhall said: “The players have taken a lot of confidence from their performances during the UK School Games, especially the final against Wales where they brought real physicality to the game.

“They know it will be a step up this weekend in Vichy but they are all really looking forward to the challenge of elite European competition.”

IRELAND UNDER-18 WOMEN’S SEVENS Squad (2017 Rugby Europe Under-18 Women’s Sevens Championship, Stade Darragon, Vichy, France, Saturday, September 16-Sunday, September 17):

Meabh Deely (Ballinasloe RFC/Connacht)
Aoibheann Reilly Ballinasloe RFC/Connacht)
Eve Higgins (Railyway Union RFC/Leinster)
Megan Burns (Tullamore RFC/Leinster)
Anna Doyle (Tullow RFC/Leinster)
Enya Breen (Bantry Bay RFC/Munster)
Emily Lane (Mallow/Munster) (capt)
Stephanie Nunan (St. Mary’s RFC, Limerick/Munster)
Dorothy Wall (Fethard RFC/Munster)
Ellie Ingram (Enniskillen RFC/Ulster)
Lucinda Kinghan (Monaghan RFC/Ulster)
Kelly McCormill (Monaghan RFC/Ulster)

IRELAND UNDER-18 WOMEN’S SEVENS Management:

Head Coach – Lucy Mulhall
Women’s Sevens Programme Manager – Eimear Flannery
Team Manager – Elaine Ryan
Physiotherapist – Niamh Connelly

IRELAND UNDER-18 WOMEN’S SEVENS Fixtures –

Day 1 – Saturday, September 16:

Pool A –

Italy U-18s v Ireland U-18s, 11.28am local time/10.28am Irish time
France U-18s v Ireland U-18s, 2.35pm local time/1.35pm Irish time
Ireland U-18s v Sweden U-18s, 4.58pm local time/3.58pm Irish time

Day 2 – Sunday, September 17:

Play-Offs

The U-18 Women’s Sevens Championship matches will be streamed live on www.rugbyeurope.eu. The full tournament fixtures and pools are available to view on the Rugby Europe website.