Briggs Makes Sevens Debut In Development Squad For Amsterdam

The Ireland Women’s Sevens management team have selected a squad of 12 to travel to the Amsterdam 7s Invitational Tournament this weekend as they continue to develop and build the playing experience of the Irish Women’s panel.

The squad contains a number of players with World Sevens Series experience. Shannon Houston, Katie Fitzhenry and Claire Keohane, who will captain the side, all played in the Canada leg last month, while the likes of Eimear Considine, Elaine Ryan and Nicole Cronin have all represented their country at World Series competitions.

Jeamie Deacon and Liz Burke both made their 15-a-side debuts for the Ireland Women this season and are joined in the squad by their 15s captain Niamh Briggs who recently joined up with the Sevens Programme.

Less experienced members of the squad include Emma Murphy and Chloe Blackmore, both of whom have represented their country in Sevens at underage level, with Blackmore captaining the Ireland Under-18s at the Rugby Europe Grand Prix tournament in Belgium last September.

Wexford’s Roisin Murphy will be playing with an Irish Sevens side for the first time in Amsterdam. The Wexford Gaelic Football captain has been playing rugby with Gorey and has recently been training with the Sevens squad.

On the selection of the squad, IRFU Director of Sevens and Women’s Rugby, Anthony Eddy, said: “We’re coming into a very busy and important period for the Women’s Sevens programme. We have a team competing in the final stage of the World Series in Clermont this weekend and also have the European Championships and of course, the Olympic Repechage tournament coming up in UCD in June.

“We have a very talented group of players in the programme and it’s important that they can play in as many competitive games as possible.

“The side heading to Amsterdam has a wealth of experience, but it’s also really pleasing to see the likes of Emma, Chloe and Roisin all taking the next step in their development.”

Ireland are have been drawn in Pool A of the Amsterdam 7s Invitational tournament with the Swiss Women’s Sevens, Amsterdam Ladies and Team Tangoed.

IRELAND WOMEN’S SEVENS DEVELOPMENT Squad (Amsterdam 7s Invitational, May 28-29):

Chloe Blackmore (St. Mary’s/Munster)
Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Liz Burke (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Eimear Considine (Talent ID Programme)
Nicole Cronin (Shannon/Munster)
Jeamie Deacon (Blackrock/Leinster)
Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock/Leinster)
Shannon Houston (Blackrock/Leinster)
Claire Keohane (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt)
Emma Murphy (Railway Union/Leinster)
Roisin Murphy (Gorey)
Elaine Ryan (Railway Union/Leinster)
 
Ireland Women’s Sevens Development Squad Fixtures – Amsterdam 7s Invitational (all times local):

Saturday, May 28 –

Ireland Women’s Sevens Development v AAC Amsterdam Ladies, 10.20am
Ireland Women’s Sevens Development v Team Tangoed, 12.20pm
Ireland Women’s Sevens Development v Swiss Women’s 7s, 2.20pm
 
Sunday, May 29 –

Play-Offs