Ireland Women will complete what has been a difficult season in the IRB World Sevens Series this weekend in the Amsterdam Sevens.

The tournament kicks off today with the Irish girls first match, against Spain, up at 12:26 UK/Irish time.

Further pool matches follow with New Zealand at 2:48 pm and the USA at 5:54 pm in what will be a difficult opening day for the young, inexperienced Irish side.

This season has been all about developing the Irish team and they showed some improvement last time out in China with a narrow loss to England in the pool games and two wins on the final day, against Brazil and China, to claim 10th place.

The team features Ulster and Belfast Harlequins player Nikki Caughey, one of the more experienced players, and the team will be looking to sharpen up their skills in the tournament before they go on to compete in the European Sevens Series where they will have an  opportunity to re-qualify for the World Series.

IRELAND WOMEN’S SEVENS Squad 
 
1. Shannon Houston (Blackrock/Leinster) (capt)
2. Martina McCarthy (St. Mary’s/Talent ID Programme)
3. Niamh Ni Dhroma (Buccaneers/Connacht)
4. Elaine Ryan (Talent ID Programme)
5. Claire Keohane (UL Bohemians/Munster)
6. Megan Williams (Saracens/Exiles)
7. Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster) *
8. Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock/Leinster)
9. Nikki Caughey (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
10. Siobhan Barrett (Tralee/Munster)
11. Laura Lee Walsh (Talent ID Programme)
12. Susan Vaughan (Railway Union/Leinster)

* Denotes new cap at senior international Sevens level

Pool Fixtures 

Spain v IRELAND, NRCA Stadium, 1.26pm local time/12.26pm Irish time
New Zealand v IRELAND, NRCA Stadium, 3.48pm local time/2.48pm Irish time
USA v IRELAND, NRCA Stadium, 6.54pm local time/5.54pm Irish time

COVERAGE HAS JUST STARTED HERE