Ireland Women’s Sevens Squad Includes Baxter, Cronin And O’Flynn

The Ireland Women’s Sevens squad to compete in the second leg of the Rugby Europe Grand Prix Series in Malemort, France this weekend has been named.

Ireland will play England, Scotland and Germany in Pool C. They won the Plate title in the opening leg in Kazan last weekend, defeating Ukraine, Italy and the Netherlands along the way. A try in the final play had denied them a Cup quarter-final victory over England (17-14).

There are three changes to the squad from the Kazan tournament as Nicole Cronin, the 2014 IRUPA Women’s Sevens Player of the Year, and Grand Slam winner Ashleigh Baxter return from their long-term injuries.

Audrey O’Flynn, the 120-times capped Hockey international and cousin of Mick O’Driscoll, is another notable inclusion as she prepares to make her international Sevens debut for Ireland.

Jenny Murphy, who sat out the opening leg, remains sidelined with a shoulder injury, while Megan Williams is absent too after sustaining a bad knock to her fibula and bone bruising during last weekend’s games.
 
Speaking ahead of the Zagreb tournament, Anthony Eddy, IRFU Director of Rugby Sevens, said: “We are looking to build on last week’s performance. We have a difficult competition ahead of us with the three teams in our pool competing on the World circuit. We are hoping to progress to the Cup final this week.”

The Women’s Sevens Grand Prix Series tournament in Malemort near Brive will be streamed live here over the weekend.

Check out www.irishrugby.ie/sevens for all the latest Men’s and Women’s Sevens news.

IRELAND WOMEN’S SEVENS Squad (Rugby Europe Grand Prix Series – Leg 2, Stade Raymond Faucher, Malemort, France, June 20-21):
 
Shannon Houston (Blackrock/Leinster)
Audrey O’Flynn (TID)
Nicole Cronin (Shannon/Munster)
Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (St. Mary’s/Munster)
Eimear Considine (TID)
Ashleigh Baxter (Cooke/Ulster)
Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock/Leinster)
Claire Keohane (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Lucy Mulhall (TID) (capt)
Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht)
Louise Galvin (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht)

Rugby Europe Women’s Grand Pris Series – Leg 2 Pools –

Pool A: Russia, Spain, Italy, Ukraine
Pool B: France, Netherlands, Wales, Portugal
Pool C: England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany
 
Rugby Europe Women’s Grand Prix Series – Leg 2 Match Schedule –

Saturday, June 20:

Pool C –

Ireland v Scotland, 11.50am local time/10.50am Irish time
Ireland v Germany, 2.50pm local time/1.50pm Irish time
Ireland v England, 5.28pm local time/4.28pm Irish time

Sunday, June 21:

Play-Offs