Ireland are set to make their WXV1 debut in Vancouver next week, with an opening clash with World champions New Zealand ©INPHO/Billy Stickland
Head coach Scott Bemand has today named a 30-player Ireland Women’s 15s squad (sponsored by Aon) for the upcoming WXV1 campaign in Vancouver.
Following Saturday’s victory over Australia in Irish Rugby’s 150th Anniversary Test match, the Ireland squad will reassemble at the IRFU High Performance Centre later today, before departing for Canada on Friday.
Bemand’s side will face New Zealand, Canada, and USA in their maiden WXV1 tournament in Vancouver, providing Ireland with an opportunity to build important Test match experience and exposure against the world’s leading teams heading into the 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations and next year’s Rugby World Cup in England.
The four players who won their first caps against the Wallaroos are all included in the travelling party, as Ruth Campbell, Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Siobhán McCarthy, and Erin King are all rewarded for impressivedebut performances in green.
Unfortunately, Leinster prop Christy Haney has been ruled out of the three-match campaign due to injury, but there is a welcome return to fitness for Ulster youngster Sadhbh McGrath who is recalled.
Fellow props Sophie Barrett and Andrea Stock are two of four uncapped players named in the squad for Vancouver, joining backs Katie Heffernan and Caitríona Finn.
Ireland will continue their preparations for WXV1 at their IRFU High Performance Centre base this week, before travelling to Canada on Friday ahead of their opening match against New Zealand at BC Place on Sunday week (September 29) (kick-off 7pm local time/3am Irish time).
Bemand’s charges then go head-to-head with hosts Canada at the Langley Events Centre on Saturday, October 5 (kick-off 3.45pm local time/11.45pm Irish time), before concluding the competition against the USA at BC Place on Friday, October 11 (kick-off 12.30pm local time/8.30pm Irish time).
Commenting on today’s squad announcement, head coach Bemand said: “We are delighted to confirm our 30-player squad to travel to Vancouver for our debut appearance at WXV1.
“We have spoken consistently about building strong squad depth within the group, and the performance against Australia and training intensity of the last two weeks, presented the coaching team with a number of difficult selection decisions.
The performance and result on Saturday was a really pleasing start point for our season, and as we reassemble for camp in Dublin later today, the focus now turns to WXV1.
“We want to prepare well for the challenges ahead and continue to grow our wave moving towards the tournament opener against the Black Ferns.”
All of Ireland’s matches at WXV1 will be available to watch live on RugbyPass TV. WXV1 tickets can be purchased via rugby.ca. Tickets are sold as single day passes, meaning fans will get access to all fixtures played on a certain day.
Player/Club/Province/Caps –
Backs (13):
Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC/Munster) 22
Eimear Considine (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster) 27
Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) 15
Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC) 1
Caitríona Finn (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster) *
Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC) 11
Nicole Fowley (Galwegians RFC/Connacht) 12
Katie Heffernan (Railway Union RFC/Leinster) *
Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC) 18
Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC) 7
Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union RFC/Munster) 10
Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Leinster) 17
Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) 16
Forwards (17):
Sophie Barrett (Railway Union RFC/Ulster) *
Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) 1
Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) 38
Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster) 24
Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury) 27
Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC) 1
Siobhán McCarthy (Gloucester-Hartpury/Munster) 1
Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster) 13
Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht) 29
Clíodhna Moloney (Exeter Chiefs) 35
Grace Moore (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby) 15
Deirbhile Nic a Bháird (Old Belvedere RFC/Munster) 9
Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) 8
Andrea Stock (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby) *
Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster) 7
Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster) 8
Dorothy Wall (Exeter Chiefs/Munster) 29
* Denotes uncapped player
For the full list of WXV1 matches, please click here.
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