The Front Row Union Sport - Six Nations: Kennedy and Day make final squad.

Six Nations: Kennedy and Day make final squad.

Jan 27, 2011

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An Ireland Women’s squad of 25 players has been named for the forthcoming Women’s RBS 6 Nations Championship. Ireland head coach Philip Doyle has included a number of seasoned internationals alongside some new faces who have emerged this season.

Ulster prop Lauren Day, who missed out on the World Cup last year when she picked up a late injury, is back in the panel and is joined in the front row by fellow Ulster player Stacey Lea Kennedy. The squad also features Donegal’s Larissa Muldoon who is currently studying in Cardiff. Cooke’s Imogen Porter missed out on this occasion as did Eliza Downey who is still recovering from her ankle injury picked up against Leinster in the Inter Provincials.

The squad sees ten uncapped players in the mix following a series of retirements after last years Women’s World Cup but with key players Fiona Coghlan, Niamh Briggs, Joy Neville and Lynne Cantwell still competing the team will be looking to push on from their World Cup performance in England where they defeated Scotland to finish 7th.

A lot will depend on how well the team travels as Ireland are currently ranked higher than Italy, Wales and Scotland but face difficult away games in all these fixtures. However if they can get a result in next Saturday’s match against Italy in Rovigo and then turn over the temperamental French at Ashbourne the following week their momentum may well carry them through to a Six Nations showdown with England on 18th March.

IRELAND WOMEN SIX NATIONS SQUAD

Gillian Bourke (Munster), Niamh Briggs (Munster), Lynne Cantwell (Exile), Fiona Coghlan (Leinster), Amy Davis (Leinster), Lauren Day (Ulster), Ailis Egan (Leinster), Siobhan Fleming (Munster), Laura Guest (Munster), Ashling Hutchings (Munster), Niamh Kavanagh (Munster), Mairead Kelly (Munster), Stacey-Lea Kennedy (Ulster), Emer McManamly (Leinster), Claire Molloy (Connacht), Larissa Muldoon (Exile), Joy Neville (Munster), Gill Nolan (Leinster), Deirdre O’Brien (Leinster), Heather O’Brien (Munster), Geraldine Rea (Munster), Marie Louise Reilly (Leinster), Jackie Shiels (Leinster), Nora Stapleton (Leinster), Carol Staunton (Connacht).