Ulster Squad Named For U18 Girls 7s and U16 Girls 7s Interpro Series

The IRFU High Performance Centre will host a full series of interpro 7s in both age grades on Saturday April 23rd and Saturday April 30th.

In addition to the return of the U18 Girls Interprovincial 7s, these events will mark the first formalised competition for U16 Girls at interprovincial level.

Two squads will feature per province in both grades.

Ulster’s squads were selected on the basis of open trials followed by a training programme held over four weekends in the run to this weekend’s event.

Eight of Ulster’s U18 Girls 7s were also named in Ulster’s squad for last summer’s PWC U18 Girls Interprovincial Series – Cara O’Kane (Cooke), Emma McCardle (City Of Armagh), Jorja Battishill (Malone), Meath Clenaghan (City Of Derry), Rebecca Mann (Donaghadee), Sadhbh McGrath (City Of Derry), Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen) and Sophie Meeke (Enniskillen)

Of those players the forward quartet of Sophie Barrett, Jorja Battishill, Maebh Clehaghan and Sadhbh McGrath were also selected for the Ireland squad who recently took part in the inaugural U18 Women’s Six Nations Festival in Edinburgh.

Sophie Barrett is also part of the IRFU’s Women’s National Talent Squad (WNTS) programme.

Ulster U18 Girls 7s Squad 2021/22 (24):

Cara O’Kane (Cooke); Ciara McKenzie (Donaghadee); Elle Corkey (City of Armagh); Emma McArdle (City of Armagh); Fae Arthurs (Carrickfergus); Holly Porter (City of Derry); Isabelle McNally-Grant (Letterkenny); Jessica Kelly (Virginia); Jorja Battishill (Malone); Kaitlyn Graham (City of Armagh); Katie Gilmour (Cooke); Maebh Clenaghan (City of Derry); Mia Ferguson (Malone); Molly Boyd (City of Derry); Niamh Johnston (Enniskillen); Rebecca Mann (Donaghadee); Sadhbh McGrath (City of Derry); Scarlett Keys (Enniskillen); Seonaidh Douthart (Ballymena); Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen); Sophie Meeke (Enniskillen); Sophie Speer (Letterkenny); Tara O’Neill (Cooke); Zara Hutchinson (Clogher Valley).

Ulster U18 Girls Management:
Head Coaches: Aly Finlay, Terry Finlay
Assistant Coaches: Neal Johnston, Murray Houston
Team Manager: Joy Sparkes
Physio: Naomi Hamilton

Ulster U18 Girls 7s Squad 2021/22 (25):

Abi Carson (Ards), Amy Meeke (Enniskillen), Anna Sloan (Limavady), Beth McBurney (Portadown), Cara McLean (Larne), Ciara O’Dowd (Virginia), Codie McCloskey (Limavady), Eimear Gallagher (Letterkenny), Ella Mark (Limavady), Emily Dickson (City of Armagh), Erin McConalogue (Inishowen), Hannah Lennon (Ballynahinch), Kate Farrell (Letterkenny), Leah Irwin (Enniskillen), Luighseach Murnaghan (Cooke), Megan Creighton (Malone), Neeve Irvine (Ballyclare High), Niamh Fulton (Sullivan Upper), Orlaith Breen (Ballymena), Rebecca Anderson (Portadown), Ruby Starrett (Larne), Sadhbh Spratt-Wells, Sophie McAllister (Ballymena), Tara Sherriff (Virginia), Victoria Bothwell (Clogher Valley).

Ulster U16 Girls Management:
Head Coach & Team Manager: Becky Hall
Assistant Coaches: Joy Sparkes, Ashleigh Orchard
Physio: Lauren Black