Ireland Squad Named For Women’s Rugby World Cup

The Ireland Women’s squad, sponsored by Aon, for the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup has been announced by head coach Tom Tierney. The tournament hosts will face Australia, Japan and France in Pool C.

Head coach Tom Tierney has named a 28-strong squad that will be captained by UL Bohemians and Munster full-back Niamh Briggs, who is back to full fitness after missing this year’s Six Nations through injury.

There are 12 players in the squad with previous World Cup experience – Ailis Egan, Heather O’Brien, Sophie Spence, Ashleigh Baxter, Paula Fitzpatrick, Alison Miller, Larissa Muldoon and Jenny Murphy were involved at France 2014, while Briggs, Claire Molloy, Marie Louise Reilly and Nora Stapleton are all set to compete at their third World Cup, having been involved in both 2010 and 2014.

Scrum half Nicole Cronin is the only uncapped member of the squad and she is one of a number of players in the squad with Sevens experience. Cronin, Hannah Tyrrell, Katie Fitzhenry, Sene Naoupu, Baxter, who has switched to flanker at 15s, and Miller all made appearances in this season’s World Rugby Women’s World Sevens Series.

Commenting on the selection of the WRWC 2017 squad, Tierney said: “Over the past three seasons we have been conscious of the need to build and develop a squad for this tournament, and as a result of the programme, many players have had the opportunity to prepare for this moment and play international rugby and show their skills at the highest level.

“We have named players who have been here before and are aware of the challenge that lies ahead, and then there are a number of players in the squad for whom this will be their first ever World Cup and I’m extremely confident they will compete for starting positions throughout the campaign.

“The players have been training consistently over the past number of months, and we have had a preparation that is far more comprehensive than previous campaigns. The anticipation and excitement has been building steadily amongst the players and the programme has provided us every opportunity, so it is now up to us to put our best foot forward during this campaign.

“The opportunity to play in a World Cup on home soil is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and while we are in a tough pool with Australia, Japan and our Six Nations rivals France, I am sure the players will rise to the occasion in front of their home fans.”

Tickets for all pool games in UCD are sold out, however tickets for the semi-finals and finals day at Kingspan Stadium and the ranking matches in Queen’s University are still available on www.ticketmaster.ie/wrwc2017 and www.ticketmaster.co.uk/wrwc2017.

Ireland’s WRWC matches will be broadcast live via eir Sport, RTE TV and RTE Radio in the Republic of Ireland and via ITV in the United Kingdom.

#WRWC2017 Team Profile: Ireland

WRWC 2017 Fixtures:

Pool C –

Ireland v Australia, UCD Bowl, 7pm, Wednesday, August 9
Ireland v Japan, UCD Bowl, 5.15pm, Sunday, August 13
France v Ireland, UCD Bowl, 7.45pm, Thursday, August 17

For more on the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup, visit the tournament website – www.rwcwomens.com.Buy your match tickets for #WRWC2017 now on www.ticketmaster.co.uk/wrwc2017 and www.ticketmaster.ie/wrwc2017.

IRELAND WRWC 2017 Squad – Backs (13): Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt), Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians/Munster), Mairead Coyne (Galwegians/Connacht), Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemians/Munster) *, Jeamie Deacon (Blackrock/Leinster), Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock/Leinster), Claire McLaughlin (Cooke/Ulster), Alison Miller (Old Belvedere/Connacht), Larissa Muldoon (Railway Union), Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Sene Naoupu (Harlequins), Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster).

Forwards (15): Ashleigh Baxter (Cooke/Ulster), Anna Caplice (UL Bohemians/Munster), Ciara Cooney (Railway Union/Leinster), Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s/Leinster), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/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).
 
* Denotes uncapped player