All change for Ireland

The inclusion of so many sevens players is interesting butpotentially important for new coach Tom Tierney as it means the likes of Alison Miller and Jen Murphy will play an important role given their recent experience and given the absence of a raft of players through retirement.

Ireland begin the tournament with the luxury of having already qualified for the 2017 World Cup so don't face the pressures of Scotland, Italy or Wales this time around. Ireland also play traditionally their two toughest games (France and England) at home but have had less preperation time than most of the other sides involved, with Tierney having just recently been appointed and with the first camp since the World Cup not taking place till December.

Key absentees, apart from the experienced retirees, include highly rated outside back Ashleigh Baxter who is out through injury but still in the squad are establishedhalfbacks Tania Rosser and Nora Stapleton who will be required to steer a young side through some tough clashes.

Speaking of selection, Director of Sevens and Women's Rugby, Anthony Eddy said "It's a very exciting time for Women's Rugby in Ireland. We have had a number of camps over the past few weeks and have had to make some tough choices reducing the squad to 30 players.”"It's a new dawn for the women's team with a new coaching set-up, including Head Coach, Tom Tierney and 12 uncapped players named in the squad. That we can bring in this new talent is testament to the work done previously.”"We are all looking forward to the first game and kicking off a new ear for the Ireland Women's Team”The squad will play a warm-up game against Wales on Sunday in Ashbourne RFC at 1pmBoth of Ireland's home games will be streamed live on www.IrishRugby.ieIreland Women's RBS 6 Nations 2015 SquadGillian Bourke (Olympico de Pozzuol/ Selección de Madrid)Niamh Briggs (UL Bohs/Munster)Kerrie-Ann Craddock (Saracens/Exile)Nicole Cronin (Shannon RFC/ Munster)*Jeamie Deacon (Blackrock/Leinster)*Emma Dunne (Old Belvedere /Leinster)*Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere /Leinster)Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock/Sevens)*Paula Fitzpatrick (St Marys/Leinster)Orla Fitzsimons (St Marys/Leinster)Fiona Hayes (UL Bohs/Munster)Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht)Sarah Mimnagh (Wasps/Exile)*Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht)Larissa Muldoon (Skewen RFC)Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster)Sene Naoupu (Galwegians/Sevens)*Katie Norris (Blackrock/Leinster)*Heather O'Brien (Highfield/Munster)Fiona O'Brien (Old Belvedere/Leinster)*Elise O'Byrne-White (Old Belvedere/Leinster)*Ruth O'Reilly (Galwegians/Connacht)Marie-Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster)Tania Rosser (Blackrock/Leinster)Jackie Shiels (Richmond/Exile)Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster)Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster)Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Sevens) *Megan Williams (St Marys/Exile) *Jade Wong (Richmond/Exiles) **Denotes uncapped player at this level

Ireland Women's Fixtures:Fri 6 Feb 19:00 Italy v Ireland Stadio Mario LodigianiFri 13 Feb 19:30 Ireland v France Ashbourne RFCFri 27 Feb 19:30 Ireland v England Ashbourne RFCSun 15 Mar 12:00 Wales v Ireland Swansea RFCSun 22 Mar 13:00 Scotland v Ireland Broadwood Stadium