Women's rugby: Ireland name uncapped 12 in Six Nations squad

Twelve uncapped players have been named in Ireland's squad for the upcoming women's Six Nations.

Five of the new faces have previously featured at Ireland Sevens level alongside experienced internationals Alison Miller and Jenny Murphy.

The 30-strong squad will also be led by a new head coach in Tom Tierney, and the selection has been overseen by Australian Anthony Eddy, the new director of women's rugby.

Eddy said: "It's a very exciting time for women's rugby in Ireland. We have had a number of camps over the past few weeks and have had to make some tough choices reducing the squad to 30 players.
 
"It's a new dawn for the women's team with a new coaching set-up, including head coach Tom Tierney, and 12 uncapped players named in the squad. That we can bring in this new talent is testament to the work done previously.

"We are all looking forward to the first game and kicking off a new ere for the Ireland women's team.”

That first game is a warm-up against Wales on Sunday ahead of their Six Nations opener in Italy on February 6.

Squad: Bourke, Briggs, Craddock, Cronin, Deacon, Dunne, Egan, Fitzhenry, Fitzpatrick, Fitzsimons, Hayes, Miller, Mimnagh, Molloy, Muldoon, Murphy, Naoupu, Norris, F O'Brien, H O'Brien, O'Byrne-White, O'Reilly, Reilly, Rosser, Shiels, Spence, Stapleton, Tyrrell, Williams, Wong.