The teams and pools have been set for next month’s women’s rugby competition at the Amsterdam Sevens with 12 international sides taking part. It’s the strongest looking tournament in Holland in some time with the likes of reigning World Champions Australia up against the likes of current IRB Challenge Cup holders England.

Ireland have announced an international sevens squad who will face a gruelling few months of training and competitions in a belated attempt to qualify for 2013 World Cup in Moscow. Leaning heavily on their leading 15s player, Ireland’s squad sees 20 players chosen to play in a number of tournaments leading up to FIRA’s first qualifying event in Belgium in June.

At the last minute, Ireland have reportedly decided to form a women’s sevens team in time to try and qualify for next year’s  World Cup. Ireland still have time to enter the qualifying tournament this summer - the first time an official Irish sevens team would taken to the field for five years. A squad of 21 players will compete at three tournaments in the coming months.

England’s dominance of European rugby continued with a seventh consecutive 6 Nations title following a 23-6 win over Ireland at Esher. They were pushed all the way by a gutsy effort from the Irish with the game tied 6-6 at halftime but two tries late in the second half was enough to secure another title, won without conceding a single try.

England and Ireland have named their sides for Saturday's women's 6 Nations final  game at Esher (KO 2pm) In the deciding game of this year's 6 Nations England have brought in Kat Merchant and Kim Oliver to their backline while Ireland have restored Gillian Bourke to the number 2 shirt. Both sides could effectively win the title this weekend.