Ireland Women's Squad announced for 2017 Women's Six Nations

Head Coach Tom Tierney has named the Ireland Women's squad, sponsored by Aon, for the Women's Six Nations Championship 2017.
 
The side includes five uncapped players – up front props Ilse Van Staden (Cooke and Ulster) and Ciara O'Connor (Galwegians and Connacht) will be hoping to win their first Ireland caps during the course of this year's Women's Six Nations, as will backs, scrum-half Ailsa Hughes from Railway Union and Leinster, out-half Jemma Jackson from Cooke and Ulster and wing Eimear Considine, from UL Bohemians and Munster, who has been capped for the Ireland Women's 7s.
 
Niamh Briggs will again captain the side.
 
Ireland will play Scotland in their first game of the Championship on Friday, 3^rd February at the Broadwood Stadium in Glasgow. They will then travel to L'Aquila to face Italy on Sunday 12^th February.
 
Their first home game will be against France in Donnybrook on Sunday, 26^th February. They will then take on Wales in the Cardiff Arms Park, on Saturday 11^th March – the morning after Ireland Men play Wales at the Principality Stadium.

Ireland will finish their Championship at home against England on March 17^th, in what will be a double header in Donnybrook on St. Patrick's Day, as the Ireland U20s will play their English counterparts before the women's game.
 
For the first time since the inception of the tournament, all of Ireland's games will be broadcast live on RTE.
 
Speaking on the selection, Tom Tierney said:
 
'It's set to be a busy and exciting year for this team, and it all gets underway next Friday against Scotland.
 
While we had some tough games in November, the experience the players gained in those matches will stand to them as we head into the Six Nations Championship.
 
There is a good blend of youth and experience in the squad, and having had weekly camps since Christmas, we've been working hard getting our structures in place and making sure everyone knows their job.
 
The fact that all of our games will be broadcast this season adds an additional element of excitement to the campaign so everyone is looking forward to it all getting underway.”
 
Tickets for the Ireland Women's home games in Donnybrook are available now via www.ticketmaster.ie
  
Ireland Women's 2017 Six Nations Squad  
Forwards:
Elaine Anthony (Highfield / Munster)
Anna Caplice (UL Bohemians / Munster)
Ciara Cooney (Railway Union / Leinster)
Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary's College / Leinster)
Orla Fitzsimons (St. Mary's College / Leinster)
Nichola Fryday (Tullamore / Connacht)
Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians / Munster)
Leah Lyons (Highfield / Munster)
Claire Molloy (Bristol / Connacht)
Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union / Leinster)
Heather O'Brien (Highfield / Munster)
Ciara O'Connor (Galwegians / Connacht)*
Ruth O'Reilly (Galwegians / Connacht)
Lindsay Peat (Railway Union / Leinster)
Marie-Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Ilse Van Staden (Cooke / Ulster)*
 
Backs:
Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians / Munster) Captain
Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians / Munster)*
Mairead Coyne (Galwegians / Connacht)
Aine Donnelly (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Mary Healy (Galwegians / Connacht)
Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union / Leinster)*
Jemma Jackson (Cooke / Ulster)*
Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians / Munster)
Claire McLaughlin (Cooke / Ulster)
Alison Miller (Old Belvedere / Connacht)
Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Sene Naoupu (Ayslesford Bulls)
Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
 
*denotes uncapped player
 
Ireland Women's Management                                                                               
Anthony Eddy - Director of Women's Rugby
Tom Tierney - Head Coach
Declan O'Brien - Assistant Coach
Derek Dowling - Scrum Coach
Tanya Abbas-Curran - Team Manager
Ed Slattery – Strength and Conditioning Coach
Nathan Buckley - Video Analyst
Emma Gallivan – Physiotherapist
Alan Farrell - Team Doctor
Marcus Shortall– Nutritionist
Rory Wilson - Squad Co-ordinator
Sam O'Byrne - Media Officer
 
Ireland Women's Six Nations Fixtures 2017
Friday 3^rd February 2017
Scotland Women v Ireland Women, 6.35pm, Broadwood Stadium, Glasgow (Live on RTE)
 
Sunday 12^th February 2017
Italy Women v Ireland Women, 2pm (1pm GMT), Stadio Tommaso Fattori, L'Aquila (Live on RTE)
 
Sunday 26^th February 2017
Ireland Women v France Women, 12.45pm, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin (Live on RTE)
 
Saturday 11^th March 2017
Wales Women v Ireland Women, 11.30pm, BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff (Live on RTE)
 
Friday 17^th March 2017
Ireland Women v England Women, 8pm, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin (Live on RTE / Sky Sports)