Ireland women’s rugby coach Philip Doyle has named a 31 player squad for the upcoming 6 Nations.
With ten uncapped players in the squad, Ireland look certain to field some new faces this season.
The Irish are to once again play all of their home fixtures at Ashhourne RFC in Meath,
While Ireland have no official test games planned to prepare for next year’s 6 Nations, in January they are due to play an Irish Exiles women’s side, made up of Irish qualified players based predominantly in the UK. The Exiles side is supported by the IRFU and could become an additional interprovincial side in Ireland should funding and resource support it in the coming seasons.
Doyle said: "I'm delighted with the squad this year. We have a lot of young and upcoming players coming through the system.
"The selection was the toughest since the Women's World Cup last year which bodes well for the forthcoming 6 Nations Championship."
The Ireland Women open their campaign with a home fixture against Wales on Friday, February 3 and and their campaign away to tournament favourites England at Esher.
Ireland finished third in last year's 6 Nations, a remarkable achievement once again despite their lack of international development beyond their national side.
Ireland were the only side in the top four last year to not field an A or U20s side and there are no clear 7s pathways developed either for the Irish, who along with Luxembourg and Slovenia are the only European women's rugby playing sides, not to enter the draw for the World Cup 7s qualifiers.
IRELAND WOMEN'S Squad (2012 RBS 6 Nations Championship):
Christine Arthurs (Tralee - Connacht)*
Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins - Ulster)*
Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians - Munster)
Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians - Munster)
Helen Brosnan (Highfield - Munster)
Lynne Cantwell (Exile)
Nikki Caughey (Belfast Harlequins - Ulster)*
Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians - Leinster)
Amy Davis (Blackrock - Leinster)
Grace Davitt (Cooke - Ulster)
Lauren Day (Cooke - Ulster)
Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere - Leinster)
Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary's - Leinster)*
Siobhan Fleming (Tralee - Munster)*
Laura Guest (Highfield - Munster)
Shannon Houston (Blackrock - Leinster)
Ashling Hutchings (UL Bohemians - Munster)*
Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians - Munster)
Stacey-Lea Kennedy (City of Derry - Ulster)
Glenda Mellon (City of Derry - Ulster)*
Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Highfield - Connacht)
Claire Molloy (Bristol - Exile)
Larissa Muldoon (Exile/UWIC - Ulster)
Joy Neville (UL Bohemians - Munster)
Heather O'Brien (Highfield - Munster)
Laura O'Mahony (Tralee - Munster)*
Ruth O'Reilly (Galwegians - Connacht)*
Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere - Leinster)
Tania Rosser (Blackrock - Leinster)
Sophie Spence (Exile)*
Carol Staunton (Galwegians - Connacht)
* Denotes uncapped player
IRELAND WOMEN'S 2012 FIXTURES -
(All times are local to where the games are being played)
Friday, February 3: Ireland v Wales, Ashbourne RFC, 7.30pm
Saturday, February 11: France v Ireland, Stade de Hameau, Pau, 6.30pm
Friday, February 24: Ireland v Italy, Ashbourne RFC, 7.30pm
Friday, March 9: Ireland v Scotland, Ashbourne RFC, 7.30pm
Saturday, March 17: England v Ireland, Esher RFC, London, 2.30pm
