Ireland Women’s Team Named For Six Nations Opener

There are six uncapped players named in the matchday squad – Leinster’s Hannah Tyrrell will make her debut on the right wing, while Sarah Mimnagh, Fiona O’Brien, Katie Norris, Katie Fitzhenry and Sene Naoupu have all been named on the bench.
 
Up front, Gillian Bourke is named at hooker and will be joined by Ruth O’Reilly and Ailis Egan in the front row. A familiar second row sees Marie Louise Reilly and Sophie Spence pair up again, and Paula Fitzpatrick, Claire Molloy and Heather O’Brien complete the pack.
 
Larissa Muldoon is named at scrum half and will be partnered at half-back by Nora Stapleton. Jackie Shiels and Jenny Murphy make up the centre partnership, with Alison Miller joining Tyrrell (pictured below) and new captain Niamh Briggs in the back-three.

 
Ireland head coach Tom Tierney said: “There is a natural changeover with the number of players retiring after last season, but there is a core group of senior players that are very experienced and talented. We also have a number of younger players who are very talented and have a lot of promise so it’s a good mix.
 
“It’s going to be a very tough game over in Italy. We are under no illusions, but we are going over there very confident that we will be competitive.”
 
The round 1 game in Florence will be streamed live on www.federugby.it and www.youtube.com/fedrugby.

IRELAND WOMEN’S Team & Replacements (v Italy Women, 2015 Women’s RBS 6 Nations, Stadio Mario Lodigiani, Florence, Friday, February 6, kick-off 7pm local time/6pm Irish time):
 
Player/Club/Province/Caps –

15. Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt) 45
14. Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 0
13. Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 17
12. Jackie Shiels (Richmond/Exile) 12
11. Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht) 22
10. Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 28
9. Larissa Muldoon (Skewen) 24        
1. Ruth O’Reilly (Galwegians/Connacht) 3
2. Gillian Bourke (Olympico de Pozuelo) 46
3. Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 22
4. Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 34
5. Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 20
6. Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s/Leinster) 12
7. Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht) 36
8. Heather O’Brien (Highfield/Munster) 17

Replacements:
 
16. Sarah Mimnagh (Wasps/Exile) 0
17. Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians/Munster) 5
18. Fiona O’Brien (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 0
19. Orla Fitzsimons (St. Mary’s/Leinster) 2
20. Katie Norris (Blackrock/Leinster) 0
21. Tania Rosser (Blackrock/Leinster) 53
22. Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock/Leinster) 0
23. Sene Naoupu (Galwegians/Connacht) 0

IRELAND WOMEN’S Management Team –

Anthony Eddy – Director of Sevens and Women’s Rugby
Tom Tierney – Head Coach
Declan O’Brien – Assistant Coach
Derek Dowling – Scrum Coach
Jean Casey – Team Manager
Marian Earls – Strength and Conditioning Co-ordinator
Lukasz Kirszenstein – Strength and Conditioning Coach
Brian Fitzgerald – Video Analyst
Lucy Soden – Team Doctor
Ulrik McCarthy – Physio
Dom Hoban – Physio
Nora Ni Fhlannagain – Nutritionist
Carmel O’Dwyer – Squad Co-ordinator
Maria Boland – Media Officer

IRELAND WOMEN’S 2015 RBS 6 Nations Fixtures:

Friday, February 6: Italy v Ireland, Stadio Mario Lodigiani, Florence, 7pm local time/6pm irish time (Tickets: €;10 over 15s/€;7 under 15s) (Stream: www.federugby.it and www.youtube.com/fedrugby)

Friday, February 13: Ireland v France, Ashbourne RFC, 7.30pm (Tickets: €;10 adults/€;5 for OAPs/students/children) (Stream: www.IrishRugby.ie)

Friday, February 27: Ireland v England, Ashbourne RFC, 7.30pm (Tickets: €;10 adults/€;5 for OAPs/students/children) (Stream: www.IrishRugby.ie)

Sunday, March 15: Wales v Ireland, St. Helen’s, Swansea, 12pm (Tickets: £10 adults/no charge for OAPs/students/children) (Stream: www.S4C.co.uk)

Sunday, March 22: Scotland v Ireland, Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld, 1pm (Tickets £5 adults/no charge for OAPs/students/children) (Stream: tbc)