The build up for the Irish Women's Rugby team ahead of their first ever series of Autumn internationals continued this week with the announcement of a 36-woman squad for a one-day camp in DCU tomorrow (Saturday, Oct 1st).
Tom Tierney's side face the top two ranked sides in world in England and New Zealand this November in UCD. In addition to that there is a face off with a rapidly improving Canada in a third international in UCD. The North American's will no doubt contain some of their Olympic bronze medal winning Sevens squad.
Ireland fell to a 13-9 defeat to England in the Six Nations in February, one of two losses in this year's campaign. Their last clash with New Zealand was the famous World Cup win in 2014 over the then reigning champions.
The Irish panel contains uncapped players Leah Lyons, Chloe Pearse, Nicola Fryday and Nicole Fowley. There are three overseas players included, Claire Molloy (Bristol), Larissa Muldoon (Skewen, Wales) and Sene Naoupu (Harlequins).
The squad in full for the one day camp is as follows.
Backs
Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt)
Liz Burke (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Nikki Caughey (Railway Union/Ulster)
Mairead Coyne (Galwegians/Connacht)
Nicole Fowley (Galwegians/Connacht)
Mary Healy (Galwegians/Connacht)
Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Claire McLaughlin (Cooke/Ulster)
Alison Miller (Old Belvedere/Connacht)
Larissa Muldoon (Skewen)
Sene Naoupu (Harlequins)
Jackie Shiels (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Forwards -
Elaine Anthony (Highfield/Munster)
Ciara Cooney (Railway Union/Leinster)
Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Grainne Egan (St. Mary's/Connacht)
Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary's/Leinster),
Orla Fitzsimons (St. Mary's/Leinster)
Nichola Fryday (Tullamore/Connacht)
Zoe Grattage (Highfield/Munster)
Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Leah Lyons (Highfield/Munster)
Claire Molloy (Bristol)
Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union/Leinster)
Katie Norris (Blackrock/Leinster)
Fiona O'Brien (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Heather O'Brien (Highfield/Munster)
Ciara O'Connor (Galwegians/Connacht)
Ruth O'Reilly (Galwegians/Connacht)
Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster)
Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
AUTUMN WOMENS INTERNATIONAL FIXTURES:
Sunday, November 13:
Ireland v England, UCD, kick-off 2pm
Saturday, November 19:
Ireland v Canada, UCD, kick-off 2pm
Sunday, November 27:
Ireland v New Zealand, UCD, kick-off 2pm.
