Finn selected in Ireland Women’s Six Nations squad
Garrykennedy native Caitriona Finn has been selected in an extended Ireland Women's squad, in preparation for the upcoming Guinness Six Nations Championship.
Head Coach Scott Bemand has selected a preparation squad of 40 players which assembles for camp at the IRFU High Performance Centre, as Ireland build towards the opening game of the Championship against France at Kingspan Stadium, Belfast on Saturday, 22nd March (Kick-off 1pm).
Finn, along with Amy Larn and Katie Heffernan will be hoping to impress during the preparatory camps and earn their debut caps in green, as the focus remains on development and acceleration towards the Championship and further beyond to Rugby World Cup 2025.
Larn and Heffernan have represented Ireland on the HSBC SVNS Series, while Finn, alongside Heffernan, travelled to Vancouver with the Ireland squad for WXV1 last Autumn and has been in excellent form for the Clovers in the Celtic Challenge.
There are eight uncapped players in the squad the Coaching team have rewarded a number of players for their eye-catching performances in the Celtic Challenge, including forwards Alma Atagamen, Jane Neill, Beth Buttimer, Jane Clohessy and Sophie Barrett.
Barrett, Neill, Buttimer and Clohessy all featured for Ireland Women's U20s last season, while Atagamen starred for the Ireland Women's U18s during the U18 Six Nations Festival.
Unfortunately, Sam Monaghan, who co-captained Ireland alongside Edel McMahon during last year's Guinness Women's Six Nations, has been ruled out of the Championship through injury.
Ireland open their campaign against France in Belfast before travelling to Parma to face Italy in round 2 on Sunday, 30th March (Kick-off 3pm). After a break week, Bemand's side then welcome England to Virgin Media Park, Cork in round 3 on Saturday, 12th March (Kick-off 4.45pm), followed by an away trip to Newport to go head-to-head with Wales on Sunday, 20th April (Kick-off 3pm). Ireland conclude the Championship at Edinburgh's Hive Stadium against Scotland on Saturday, 26th April (Kick-off 2.30pm).