Eight uncapped players have been named in the Ireland squad for the 2023 Tiktok Women's Six Nations.
Forwards Niamh O’Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath, Fiona Tuite and Molly Boyne all impressed for the Combined Provinces XV during the Celtic Challenge and have earned their first Ireland call-ups, while uncapped Irish qualified duo Kathryn Buggy and Clara Neilson have also been named in the 32-player squad.
In the backs, Ella Roberts, who impressed during that Celtic Challenge campaign, has also been included along with Harlequins scrum-half Emma Swords.
2 April 2022; Nichola Fryday of Ireland contests a lineout during the TikTok Women's Six Nations Rugby Championship match between France and Ireland at Stade Ernest Wallon in Toulouse, France. Photo by Manuel Blondeau/Sportsfile
The Ireland squad will be captained by Nichola Fryday who took over as skipper last year.
"We’re really excited to get the Six Nations underway, as it will be our first campaign together as a group since the Tour of Japan, which provided us with an invaluable platform to build together as a squad moving forward," said Fryday.
"The Celtic Challenge has granted so many players access to quality game time in recent weeks, and this coupled with the game time the UK-based players have had in the Premiership in recent months, will serve us well moving into the opening Rounds of the Six Nations.
"It is always an exciting time of year and we’re hugely motivated as a group to build on the positive aspects of last season and continue to grow and evolve under Greg and the coaching team.
"It is brilliant to see eight uncapped players come into the group, as we are always striving to build squad depth and the value of the Women’s Interprovincial Championship and Celtic Challenge is there for all to see.
“We are really looking forward to returning to Cork for two huge home matches, as the support we received at Musgrave Park last year was incredible.”
Ireland play Wales in Cardiff in their opening match of the Six Nations on March 25th.
18 February 2023; Sadhbh McGrath of Combined Provinces XV during the Celtic Challenge 2023 match between Combined Provinces XV and Welsh Development XV at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Ireland squad for 2023 Women's Six Nations
Forwards (18):
Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)*
Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster)*
Kathryn Buggy (Gloucester-Hartbury/IQ Rugby)*
Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartbury/Ulster)
Clara Nielson (Exeter Chiefs/IQ Rugby)*
Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird (Old Belvedere RFC/Munster)
Nichola Fryday (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht)(captain)
Sam Monaghan (Gloucester-Hartbury/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)
See Also: 'His Kicking Was Horrific, Now Look At Him' - Lowe On The Ever Improving Hugo Keenan
