Ireland Women's U18 side will kick-off their Six Nations Festival on Friday, with head coach Larissa Muldoon having yesterday confirmed her squad of 28.
The tournament which runs for just over a week takes place at Wellington College in Berkshire, England and will see Ireland's younger talents get the chance to impress.
To help aid her selection Muldoon has overseen a series of camps at the IRFU’s High Performance Centre on the Sports Ireland Campus in Abbottstown across March with the final camp taking place last weekend.
Six players who participated in the inaugural tournament last year in Edinburgh return to the squad this year – Molly Boote, Beth Buttimer, Katie Corrigan, Sarah McCormick, Robyn O’Connor and Orla Wafer.
Ireland U18 Squad Named For Six Nations Festival
U18 Ireland Women squad confirmed for #SixNationsFestival in England from 7-15th Aprilhttps://t.co/HOAgphuuO4#futureisgreen | @PwCIreland pic.twitter.com/eHNhhrVy5J
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) April 4, 2023
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Amongst the squad ten players are from Connacht, nine are from Leinster, Munster has seven representatives, while Ulster has one. May Goulding from Hartpury in England also makes the squad.
Across the first two match days each team will play four 35-minute fixtures followed by a full 70-minute fixture on the third match day.
Ireland open their campaign on Friday with 35-minute games against France and Italy before playing two more condensed games against Scotland and England on Tuesday week.
Their 70-minute encounter will be against Wales on Saturday April 15th.
Ireland squad for 2023 U18 Women's Six Nations Festival
Forwards (15)
Grainne Burke (Munster/Ennis RFC)
Kelly Burke (Leinster/Mullingar RFC)
Beth Buttimer (Munster/Fethard RFC)*
Lily Byrne (Leinster/Skerries RFC)
Poppy Garvey (Connacht/Sligo RFC)
Beibhinn Gleeson (Connacht/Oughterard/Tuam RFC)
Roisin Maher (Connacht/Creggs RFC)
Lilly Morris (Munster/Killarney RFC)
Sarah McCormick (Connacht/Ballina RFC)*
Alma Obehi Atagamen (Leinster/Balbriggan RFC)
Ellen O’Toole (Connacht/Wesport RFC)
Ruby Starrett (Ulster/Larne RFC)
Ailish Quinn (Connacht/Ballina RFC)
Orla Wafer (Leinster/Enniscorthy RFC)*
Saskia Wycherley (Munster/Bantry Bay RFC)
Backs (13)
Molly Boote (Connacht/Connemara RFC)*
Emma Brogan (Leinster/Navan RFC)
Lyndsey Clarke (Munster/Ennis RFC)
Hannah Clarke (Connacht/Oughterard/Tuam RFC)
Katie Corrigan (Leinster/Tullow RFC)*
Emily Foley (Connacht/Ballina RFC)
Caitriona Finn (Munster/UL Bohemians/Ballina-Killaloe RFC)
May Goulding (IQ Rugby/Hartpury)
Abby Healy (Leinster/Wicklow RFC)
Lucia Linn (Munster/Loughborough University)
Grainne Moran (Connacht/Ballina RFC)
Niamh Murphy (Leinster/Cill Dara RFC)
Robyn O’Connor (Leinster/Wexford Wanderers RFC)*
*capped at U18 level
Match Day 1: Friday 7th April, 2023
France v IRELAND KO 3.00pm
IRELAND v Italy KO 5.00pm
Match Day 2: Tuesday 11th April, 2023
Scotland v IRELAND KO 10.00am
IRELAND v England KO 11.00am
Match Day 3: Saturday 15th April, 2023
IRELAND v Wales KO 2.15pm
SEE ALSO: The Best Uncapped Irish Rugby 23 Chosen From Current Players
