Ireland head coach Greg McWilliams has named eight uncapped players in his squad for the TikTok Women's Six Nations, but will have to make do without his Sevens stars for the opening rounds of the championship at the very least.
The Ireland coach has confirmed a 32-player group for the championship, which begins away to Wales at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday, 25 March (Kick-off 2.15pm, live on RTÉ2).
The Ireland Sevens squad are currently in Canada preparing for this week's Vancouver leg of the World Series, while the Hong Kong leg of the series, which takes place from 31 March to 2 April, has ruled out the likes of Beibhinn Parsons, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Eve Higgins and several other dual players from featuring in the early rounds of the Six Nations.
The IRFU have not confirmed whether those players will be available for XV's selection in the later rounds of the championship.
Six of the eight uncapped players are forwards, with Leinster's Niamh O'Dowd and Molly Boyne, Ulster's Sadhbh McGrath and Fiona Tuite, as well as IQ Rugby duo Kathryn Buggy (Gloucester-Hartpury) and Clara Neilson (Exeter Chiefs) all named in the group.
Ella Roberts was one of the stars of the Celtic Challenge campaign and off the back of her performances for the Combined Provinces, is one of two uncapped backs in the squad alongside Harlequins scrum-half Emma Swords.
Nichola Fryday will once again captain the group, while Mary Healy, Megan Collis, Andrea Stock, Emma Hooban, India Daley, Claire Bennett, Katie Whelan, Leah Tarpey, Kayla Waldron, Ella Durkan, Clare Gorman and Aoife Corey will also be involved with the squad at this week's two-day mini camp at the IRFU high performance centre in Abbotstown.
Forwards (18):
Niamh O'Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster), Kathryn Buggy (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ Rugby), Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury/Ulster), Clara Nielson (Exeter Chiefs/IQ Rugby), Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird (Old Belvedere RFC/Munster), Nichola Fryday (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht), (captain), Sam Monaghan (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ Rugby), Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster), Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College RFC/Munster), Grace Moore (Saracens/IQ Rugby), Maeve Óg O’Leary (Blackrock College RFC/Munster), Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht), Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster), Molly Boyne (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
Backs (14):
Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Railway Union RFC/Leinster), Emma Swords (Harlequins/IQ Rugby), Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union RFC/Leinster), Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC/Munster), Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Vicky Irwin (Sale Sharks/Ulster), Méabh Deely (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht), Aoife Doyle (Railway Union RFC/Munster), Natasja Behan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Ella Roberts (Wicklow RFC/Leinster), Lauren Delany (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby).
Fixtures:
Wales v Ireland, Saturday 25 March, Cardiff Arms Park, 2.15pm (Live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player)
Ireland v France, Saturday 1 April, Musgrave Park, 3.15pm
Italy v Ireland, Saturday 15 April, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, 4.45pm
Ireland v England, Saturday 22 April, Musgrave Park, 2.15pm (Live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player)
Scotland v Ireland, Saturday 29 April, DAM Health Stadium, 7.30pm.
