Ireland name four non-international players in Vancouver tournament squad – The Irish Times

Ireland Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has announced that he has included four non-international players in his 30-man squad ahead of Friday’s WXV1 tournament in Vancouver, where they will face New Zealand, Canada and the USA.

Supporters Sophie Barrett and Andrea Stock, Mullingar all-rounder Katie Heffernan and midfielder Caitríona Finn round out the four uncapped players. Barrett and Finn both produced standout performances at the Under-20 Nations Summer Series in Italy.

Ireland secured a stunning 36-10 win over Australia in the 150th anniversary Test match of Irish rugby at Kingspan Stadium at the weekend, with impressive debuts from Ruth Campbell, Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Siobhan McCarthy and Erin King securing selection for the tournament in Canada.

Unfortunately, tight end Christy Haney, who played against the Wallaroos, has been ruled out of the squad through injury. Cooke and Ulster front row Sadhbh McGrath have had time to regain fitness. Ireland will also be without winger Béibhinn Parsons, scrumhalf Aoibheann Reilly and second row Sam Monaghan.

Parsons suffered a leg injury in the Irish Sevens defeat to Australia in the Olympic quarter-finals in Paris, while Monaghan suffered an ACL injury in last season’s Premier League final in England and is likely to miss the Six Nations.

Reilly also suffered a second ACL, a different knee, at the Madrid Sevens but is making good progress. Parsons and Reilly will be available for the Six Nations.

Bemand said: “We are delighted to confirm our 30-man squad that will travel to Vancouver for our first match on WXV1. We have consistently talked about building strong squad depth within the group and the performance against Australia and the intensity of training over the last two weeks presented the coaching team with a number of difficult selection decisions.

“Saturday’s performance and result was a really pleasing starting point for our season and as we regroup for camp in Dublin, our focus now turns to WXV1, preparing well for the challenges ahead and continuing to ride our wave towards the tournament opener against the Black Ferns.”

Ireland won last year’s WXV3 tournament but finished third in the Six Nations, taking them straight to the elite level. It’s a good opportunity to gauge the obvious progress made by Bemand’s team and hopefully build momentum towards the 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations and next year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.

Ireland will continue their preparations for WXV1 at the IRFU High Performance Centre this week before travelling to Canada on Friday ahead of their opening match against New Zealand at BC Place on Sunday.

Bemand’s team will then face hosts Canada in their second match at the Langley Events Centre before finishing the tournament against the USA at BC Place. All of Ireland’s matches will be streamed live on RugbyPass TV.

Ireland: (Wait 13) – E Breen (Blackrock College/Munster), E Considine (UL Bohemian/Munster), A Dalton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), V Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow), C Finn (UL Bohemian/Munster),* S Flood (Railway Union), N Fowley (Galwegians/Connacht), K Heffernan (Railway Union/Leinster),* E Higgins (Railway Union), E Lane (Blackrock College), Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union/Munster), M Scuffil-McCabe (Leinster), D O’Brien (Old Belvedere/Leinster). (Forwards 17) – S Barrett (Railway Union/Ulster),* R Campbell (Former Belvedere/Leinster), L Djougang (Former Belvedere/Leinster), B Hogan (Former Belvedere/Ulster), N Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), E King (Former Belvedere), S McCarthy (Worcester Warriors/Munster), S McGrath (Cooke/Ulster), E McMahon (Ex) eter Chiefs/Connacht), C Moloney (Exeter Chiefs), G Moore (Ealing Trailfinders/IQ Rugby), D Nic a Bháird (Former Belvedere/Munster), N O’Dowd (Former Belvedere/Leinster), A Stock (Ealing Trailfinders/IQ Rugby),* F Tuite (Former Belvedere/Ulster), A Wafer (Blackrock College/Leinster), D Wall (Exeter Chiefs/ Munster).

Fixtures

Sunday, September 29: Ireland v New Zealand, BC Venue (3.0am, Irish time)

Saturday, October 5: Ireland v Canada, Langley Events Centre (23:45, Irish time)

Friday, October 11: Ireland – USA, BC Place (20:30, Irish time)