Ireland women to run open session

Head Coach Tom Tierney has chosen 33 players for his latest squad with a host of new faces including Nikki Caughey - a member of the Ireland sevens quad.

Tierney said "It's a very exciting time for Women's rugby in Ireland. We are coming in to the new season on the back of a 6 Nations win and with that comes great expectation. We have a number of new faces in the squad which is a testament to the popularity of women's rugby throughout the country.”

"We are really looking forward to the open training session in Belfast and to get a run out in front of supporters at Kingspan Stadium.”

Tickets for the event are free and can be printed on ticketmaster.ie. Tickets are also available via telephone (028 9049 3222 Option 2) or from the Ticket Office at Kingspan Stadium.

Ireland have not yet announced a schedule for any Autumn internationals they will play England in London on November 14.

Following this year's second Six Nations win, women's rugby in Ireland has been on something of a high, with its sevens squad qualifying for the World Sevens Series in a tournament that was well attended in Dublin; while last week it was confirmed that the national side would play its Six Nations fixtures next year in the bigger surroundings of Donnybrook in Dublin.

Timings for Ireland's open training session, Saturday October 10th

13.30               Gates open13.30-14.30      Trophy photo opportunity14.30-16.00      Open training session16.00-16.45      Fan meet and greet

Ireland Women's XV Squad (Ireland Open Training Session – Kingspan Stadium, Belfast. Saturday 10th October, 14.30)

Elaine Anthony (Highfield/ Munster)*,Gillian Bourke (Wasps/ Exiles),Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemian/ Munster),Hannah Casey (Saracens/ Exiles),Nikki Caughey (Belfast Harlequins/ Ulster)*,Ciara Cooney (Railway Union/ Leinster)*,Mairead Coyne (Galwegians/ Connacht)*,Kerrie Ann Craddock (Saracens/ Exiles),Jeamie Deacon (Blackrock/ Leinster)*,Aine Donnelly (Cill Dara/ Leinster)*,Grainne Egan (St Marys/ Connacht)*,Ailis Egan (Old Belvidere/ Leinster),Paula Fitzpatrick (Stade Toulousain),Orla Fitzsimons (St Marys/ Leinster),Zoe Garttage (Tralee/ Munster)*,Mary Healy (Galwegian/ Connacht),Mairead Hopkins (Castlebar/ Ballina/ Connacht)*,Sharon Lynch (Old Belvidere/ Leinster),Claire McLaughlin (Queens/ Ulster)*Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union/ Leinster)*,Larissa Muldoon (Skewen RFC/ Exiles),Edel Murphy (UL Bohemian/Munster)*,Sene Naoupu (Galwegians/ Sevens),Katie Norris (Blackrock/ Leinster),Heather O'Brien (Stade Toulousain),Fiona O'Brien (Old Belvedere/ Leinster),Elise O'Byrne White (Old Belvedere/ Leinster)*,Ruth O'Reilly (Galwegians/ Connacht),Ciara O'Connor (Galwegians/ Connacht)*,Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/ Leinster),Jackie Shiels (Richmond/Exiles),Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/ Leinster),Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/ Leinster)

*Denotes uncapped player at this level.