Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has named eight uncapped players in a 40-woman squad for the upcoming Guinness Women's Six Nations campaign, but injury means Sam Monaghan does not figure in the extended panel.
Monaghan co-captained Bemand's team in last season's championship, but won't by among the preparation squad which will assemble at the IRFU High Performance Centre on Monday as focus shifts to the opening Six Nations fixture against France at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday, 22 March.
Béibhinn Parsons, who suffered the second of two leg breaks in 2024 in December, has been included and will get the chance to add to her 26 caps.
Forwards Alma Atagamen, Jane Neill, Beth Buttimer, Sophie Barrett and Jane Clohessy - daughter of former international Peter - have been called up for the first time after eye-catching performances in the Celtic Challenge, with uncapped backs Amy Larn, Katie Heffernan and Caitriona Finn also named in the squad.
Commenting on today's squad announcement, Bemand said: "We're delighted to select a really strong blend of 40 players to assemble and prepare for the start of the Guinness Women's Six Nations, while also building towards Rugby World Cup 2025.
"We'll come together in Dublin next Monday and reconnect as a group, laying the foundations for the opportunities ahead.
"Following on from successes during the WXV1 campaign in Vancouver, we have been impressed by the hard work and application of the players as they have returned to club action in recent months.
"The focus and determination of players as they've attacked Celtic Challenge training with the Clovers and Wolfhounds has been particularly pleasing, and a number of players have earned their opportunity in national camp off the back of those performances as we grow our wave.
"We showed positive growth and evolution over the course of 2024 and the group are excited to get back in together to continue that work as we look towards the opening game against France in Belfast, which will provide a big challenge for us, but we're relishing the opportunity to perform in green while taking the home support along with us."
Ireland preparation squad for Guinness Women's Six Nations:
Forwards (22):
Alma Atagamen (Balbriggan RFC)*, Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster) (11), Beth Buttimer (UL Bohemian RFC)*, Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster) (27), Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster) (19), Claire Boles (Railway Union RFC/Ulster) (3), Cliodhna Moloney (Exeter Chiefs) (38), Deirbhile Nic a Bháird (Old Belvedere RFC/Munster) (11), Dorothy Wall (Exeter Chiefs/Munster) (32), Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht) (30), Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC) (4), Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster) (10)Grace Moore (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby) (17), Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)*, Jane Neill (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)*, Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster (41), Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury) (30), Niamh O'Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) (11), Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) (2), Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster) (13), Siobhán McCarthy (Worcester Warriors/Munster) (4), Sophie Barrett (Railway Union RFC/Ulster)*
Backs (18):
Amee-Leigh Costigan (Railway Union RFC/Munster) (13), Amy Larn (Athy RFC)*, Anna McGann (Railway Union RFC) (6), Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht) (12), Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) (18), Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht) (26), Caitríona Finn (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)*, Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) (19), Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC) (10), Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC/Munster) (25), Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC) (21), Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere RFC) (5), Katie Heffernan (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)*, Méabh Deely (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht) (13), Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Leinster) (20), Nicole Fowley (Galwegians RFC/Connacht) (14), Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC) (14), Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC) (1)
* Denotes uncapped player
Caps in brackets
