Ireland Women's Rugby Squad Ready for Test Against Australia and WXV1 Campaign
Head Coach Scott Bemand has included 10 uncapped players in his squad, rewarding a number of young players for their performances for Ireland Women’s U20s during the Summer Series in Italy and the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship.
New Faces in the Squad
Among the new faces in the squad are prop Sophie Barrett, who was an outstanding performer for Niamh Briggs’ Ireland U20s during the summer and receives her first senior call-up. She joins Ruth Campbell, Siobhán McCarthy, Andrea Stock and Ireland Sevens international Erin King as the uncapped forwards in the 35-player panel.
In the backs, there are first senior call ups for Robyn O’Connor and Chisom Ugwueru, who make the step up from Ireland U20s, while Katie Heffernan, Katie Whelan and Alana McInerney – the current top scorer in this season’s Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship – will all be hoping to earn their first Test cap in green.
Experienced Players Return
King is one of five Olympians selected by Bemand, with Stacey Flood, Eve Higgins, Emily Lane and Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe – who have all previously been capped at XVs level – also coming into the squad having been part of Ireland Women’s Sevens’ historic campaign at Paris 2024.
A Mix of Youth and Experience
Bemand is confident that the squad has the right mix of youth and experience to be successful in the upcoming challenges. “The selection of 10 uncapped players is testament to the increased player resource pool we are developing and we feel we have the right mix of youth and Test experience to equip us for the challenges ahead,” he said.
Looking Ahead to the Matches
The squad will assemble at the IRFU High Performance Centre on Monday in preparation for the visit of the Wallaroos to Kingspan Stadium on Saturday, 14 September (Kick-off 2.30pm) and then the three-match WXV1 campaign later in September and early October. Ireland Women face Australia in Belfast to mark the start of Irish Rugby’s 150th Year Celebrations before Bemand will reduce his squad to 30 players for the trip to Vancouver, where they will face New Zealand, Canada and USA at WXV1.
A Busy Season Ahead
The upcoming season is a crucial one for Ireland's women's rugby team, with the Rugby World Cup in 2025 looming large. The matches against Australia and the WXV1 campaign will be important opportunities for the team to build momentum and gain valuable experience ahead of the global tournament.
A New Chapter in Irish Women's Rugby
With a new generation of players coming through the ranks, Ireland's women's rugby team is poised for a bright future. The upcoming season is a chance for the team to showcase its talent and make its mark on the international stage. The addition of experienced coaches such as Alex Codling and Gareth Steenson will further enhance the team's capabilities, and the 150th anniversary of Irish rugby provides a perfect backdrop for the team to reach new heights.
