Neville, who missed last year’s tournament while on a year out travelling, will not feature in Ireland’s games against Italy and France.

Ireland kick off the tournament with a home game against the Italians, who replaced Spain in this competition just last year, and will be hopeful of making it two wins out of two over the newcomers who they beat last season in Rome.

The Irish side was aided in its preparations for the Six Nations last week with a training game against a combined provinces team.
The provinces team, coached by Munster duo Donal O’Driscoll and Fiona Steed, was made up of a few experienced ex-internationals and also some young up and coming players.

The outing proved a good test for the country’s leading players and Ireland ran out 32-0 winners. The Irish squad to play Italy is set to be announced this weekend. Ireland will play all of their home games at St Mary’s RFC under lights on the Friday nights’ of Six Nations weekends.

Ireland Six Nations Squad

 Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians), Marie Barrett (Highfield), Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians) Laura Guest (UL Bohemians), Jess Limbert (Cooke), Yvonne Nolan (Blackrock), Germaine Healy (Blackrock), Caroline Mahon (UL Bohemians), Kate O’Loughlin (Clonmel) Louise Austin (Blackrock), Orla Brennan (Blackrock), Joy Neville (UL Bohemians), Sinead Ryan (Blackrock) Sarahjane Belton (UL Bohemians) (Captain), Louise Beamish (UL Bohemians), Tania Rosser (Blackrock), Niamh Briggs (Clonmel), Jo O’Sullivan (Richmond), Patrique Kelly (UL Bohemians), Shannon Houston (Blackrock), Grace Davitt (Blackrock), Helen Brosnan (Highfield), Lynne Cantwell (UL Bohemians), Amy Davis (Cooke) Linda O’Hara (Blackrock), Jackie Shiels (Richmond)