Strong Munster representation in Irish Womens RWC 2017 Training Squad.

A total of 13 Munster women have been included in Tom Tierney’s Irish Womens Rugby World Cup squad that takes place in Ireland in August this year. A total of 48 women have been called up to the squad.

For 35, it will be a first World Cup. However for  Claire Molloy, Marie-Louise Reilly, Niamh Briggs and Nora Stapleton it will be a third world cup, having already appeared for Ireland in England (2010) and France (2014)

After recently winning the AIL Cup, Ul Bohemians have 6 named to the squad. These are captain Niamh Briggs, flankers Ciara Griffin and Anna Caplice, backs Eimear Considine, Louise Galvin and Niamh Kavanagh.

The Head Coach to the squad is Limerick man Tom Tierney who is hoping for a successful World Cupp after the progress that has been made in Irish Women’s Rugby over the past few years.

“From the November tests and throughout the Six Nations, we wanted to develop depth in the squad and provide players with the opportunity to put their hand up for selection for the World Cup.

“Finishing in second place in the Six Nations was a positive result for the team and we will look to build on this prior to August and the World Cup.

“The aim now is to make sure the players that have been selected on this panel are all up to speed on how we want to play our game in August, as well as being physically fit for what will be a challenging and demanding tournament.”

Ireland will take part in two challenge games against Japan before the World Cup opener on August 9 against Australia. The Women’s World Cup is taking place all around Ireland from August 9-26.

Ireland’s Womens training panel for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017: Forwards: Elaine Anthony (Highfield/Munster), Ashleigh Baxter (Cooke/Ulster), Anna Caplice (UL Bohemian/Munster), Ciara Cooney (Railway Union/Leinster), Jeamie Deacon (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Laura Feely (Galwegians/Connacht)*, Jennie Finlay (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s College RFC/Leinster), Orla Fitzsimons (St. Mary’s College RFC/Leinster), Nichola Fryday (Tullamore/Connacht), Ciara Griffin (UL-Bohemian/Munster), Leah Lyons (Highfield/Munster), Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht), Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union/Leinster), Heather O’Brien (Highfield/Munster), Ciara O’Connor (Galwegians/Connacht), Ruth O’Reilly (Galwegians/Connacht), Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Marie-Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Ilse Van Staden (Cooke/Ulster). Backs: Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemian/Munster), Nikki Caughey (Railway Union/Ulster), Eimear Considine (UL Bohemian/Munster), Mairead Coyne (Galwegians/Connacht), Nicole Cronin (Shannon RFC/Munster)*, Aoife Doyle (Shannon RFC/Munster), Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Kim Flood (Railway Union/Leinster), Stacey Flood (Railway Union/Leinster) *, Nicole Fowley (Galwegians/Connacht), Louise Galvin (UL Bohemian/Munster) *, Mary Healy (Galwegians/Connacht), Eve Higgins (Railway Union/Leinster) *, Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster), Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemian/Munster), Claire McLaughlin (Cooke/Ulster), Alison Miller (Old Belvedere/Connacht), Larissa Muldoon (Railway Union), Lucy Mulhall (Rathdrum RFC) *, Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster, Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe (Railway Union/Munster) *, Sene Naoupu (Aylesford Bulls), Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird (Aylesford Bulls /Munster)*, Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Megan Williams (St. Mary’s College RFC) *

*Indicates uncapped at this level