Ilse van Staden, Ulster Women's Rugby, Ireland Women's Rugby

Women: Van Staden and Jackson in Ireland Squad.

Cooke’s and have joined fellow Cookie in the Ireland Women’s Rugby training squad ahead of their Six Nations warm-up fixture against Wales. The game takes place on Sunday afternoon at Donnybrook, kick off 2:00 pm.

It’s the end of a long journey for both players, who have been on the fringe of Ireland involvement for some time. Hopefully, it will be the beginning of another adventure in their rugby careers. The Front Row Union would like to add their congratulations to the pair. And it’s a big up to McLaughlin, who now goes into her second Six Nations series. 

Jemma Jackson, Ulster Women's Rugby, Ireland Women's Rugby
Jemma Jackson in action for Ulster against Leinster.

After a disappointing autumn series for Ireland Women’s Rugby head coach has called in eight new names in total to the squad. Van Staden and Jackson are joined by ex-Ulster player as well as Ciara O’Connor, , , and

The squad also features the return of FRU favourite . 🙂 

Here’s the squad in full.

ForwardsBacks
Elaine Anthony (Highfield/Munster)Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt)
Anna Caplice (UL Bohemians/Munster)Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians/Munster) *
Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)Mairead Coyne (Galwegians/Connacht)
Laura Feely (Galwegians/Connacht) *Mary Healy (Galwegians/Connacht)
Jennie Finlay (Old Belvedere/Leinster) *Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster) *
Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s/Leinster)Jemma Jackson (Cooke/Ulster) *
Orla Fitzsimons (St. Mary’s/Leinster)Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Nichola Fryday (Tullamore/Connacht)Claire McLaughlin (Cooke/Ulster)
Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster)Alison Miller (Old Belvedere/Connacht)
Leah Lyons (Highfield/Munster)Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht)Sene Naoupu (Aylesford Bulls)
Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union/Leinster)Deirbhile Nic a Bháird (UL Bohemians/Munster) *
Heather O’Brien (Highfield/Munster)Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Ciara O’Connor (Galwegians/Connacht) *
Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster)
Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Ilse van Staden (Cooke/Ulster) *
* Denotes uncapped player.

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