Ireland Squad Named For WXV Training Camp

New Women’s Head Coach Scott Bemand has today named a 30-player Ireland training squad, sponsored by Aon, ahead of the inaugural WXV3 competition in Dubai.

Bemand, who started in the position earlier this month, has selected an extended group of players to assemble for camp at the IRFU High Performance Centre on Sunday, 10 September in preparation for the three-game WXV3 campaign in October.

A number of players have impressed the Ireland Coaching Team during the ongoing Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship and Bemand has included five uncapped players in the training squad.

Forwards Fiona Tuite, Sarah Delany and Siobhan McCarthy are named in the panel, while young backs Clara Barrett and Katie Whelan earn their first call ups to the senior squad.

Delany, Barrett and Whelan are three of five players included who featured for Ireland Women’s U20s on their tour to Italy in June, while Béibhinn Parsons and Eve Higgins add major experience to the squad having last year helped the Ireland Sevens secure Olympic qualification.

In addition, Bemand has selected six players – Eimear Corri, India Daley, Kayla Waldron, Leah Tarpey, Megan Collis and Ruth Campbell – to train with the squad for the duration of the preparatory camps.

Commenting on the squad announcement, Bemand said: “After settling into the role in recent weeks and connecting with many of the players and staff, it is exciting to announce our WXV3 training squad. There have been a number of impressive performances during the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship and the Coaching Team believe we have selected an exciting blend of youth and experience for the competition ahead.

“We will assemble as a wider group in two weeks as we narrow the focus on our opening game against Kazakhstan in Dubai. There is a lot of hard work ahead but there is exciting potential within the squad, and now is our opportunity to start on the right trajectory, targeting growth and progression as we build into the campaign and indeed the 2023/24 season ahead.”

Ireland face Kazakhstan in their WXV3 opener on Friday, 13 October before going head-to-head with Colombia at The Sevens Stadium on Saturday, 21 October. Bemand’s side conclude the competition against Spain on Saturday, 28 October.

World Rugby will confirm broadcast details for WXV3 in due course.

Ireland Women’s Training Squad:

Forwards:

Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)
Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird (Old Belvedere RFC/Munster)
Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)
Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht)
Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)*
Grace Moore (Saracens/IQ Rugby)
Kathryn Buggy (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ Rugby)
Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Maeve Óg O’Leary (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)
Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury/Ulster)
Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Sadhbh McGrath (City of Derry/Cooke RFC/Ulster)
Sam Monaghan (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ Rugby)
Sarah Delaney (Cill Dara RFC/Leinster)*
Siobhan McCarthy (Worcester Warriors/Munster)*

Backs:

WXV3 Fixtures:

The Sevens Stadium, Dubai

• Ireland v Kazakhstan, Friday 13 October
• Ireland v Colombia, Saturday 21 October
• Ireland v Spain, Saturday 28 October