Head Coach Niamh Briggs has named her 28-player Ireland U20s squad, sponsored by PwC, ahead of the inaugural Six Nations Women’s Summer Series, running from July 4th to 14th in Parma, Italy.
The event is organised by Six Nations Rugby and will feature all Six Nations teams, with focus placed on U20 players and their development, although the selection of up to three U23 players in matchday squads is allowed.
Forward Jane Neill, currently playing at Glaswegians, has been named captain of the squad, with UL Bohemian fly-half Kate Flannery being named vice-captain.
Briggs has selected five U23 players to travel with the squad - Ruth Campbell, Amanda McQuade, Chisom Ugwueru, Faith Oviawe and Ivana Kiripati - with three permitted to have involvement in each of the matchday squads.
Campbell, Kiripati, Flannery and Ugwuere took part in the training panel for the Guinness Women’s Six Nations earlier this year.
The Ireland Women's U20s Squad to travel to Italy next week, for the Inaugural Six Nations Summer Series! 🟢
Read in full: https://t.co/MeoHdlcfso 👈#FutureIsGreen #IrishRugby pic.twitter.com/idLc2YeX1C— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) June 28, 2024
Niamh Briggs on the importance of player development
The launch of a tournament such as this gives the players an opportunity to develop and make transition to the senior international stage an easier one, says Ireland U20s Head Coach Briggs, ahead of their trip to Italy.
“It’s exciting for all of us to be part of this tournament.
Having these structures in place at U18 and U20 is important in helping the players to develop and bridge the gap to senior internationals.
This gives players time to expose themselves to better opposition and I suppose expose themselves to higher level rugby, expose themselves to camp and the environment that that brings.
Ireland will play three matches across the series - v England on 4th July, v Italy on 9th July and v Scotland on 14th July. Matches will be streamed globally on the Six Nations Rugby U20s YouTube channel, and all info and news can be found on the Six Nations Rugby app and U20 Six Nations social media platforms.
Just a week to go until the Women's Summer Series kicks off in Parma ☀️🇮🇹
Here's a reminder of everything you need to know about the competition ➡️ https://t.co/o44RBWJoOE#U6NSummerSeries pic.twitter.com/MEDutRKJxE— Six Nations Under-20s (@SixNationsU20) June 27, 2024
Enda McDonagh, Managing Partner at PwC Ireland - who are sponsoring the Ireland Women’s U20s squad - gave a message of support to the team ahead of the tournament:
“Everyone at PwC is really excited about the inaugural U20 Women’s Six Nations Summer Series campaign kicking off in Parma, Italy next week.
“We wish Head Coach Niamh Briggs, her wider coaching team and all the players in the travelling squad the very best of luck in their three fixtures, as they take on England, Italy and Scotland.
The Ireland Women’s U20s Six Nations Summer Series squad in full
FORWARDS:
Sophie Barrett – Enniskillen/Railway Union/Ulster
Grainne Burke – Ennis/Munster
Kelly Burke – Mullingar/Leinster
Beth Buttimer – UL Bohemian/Munster
Ruth Campbell – Old Belvedere/Leinster
Aoibheann Hahessy – UL Bohemian/Munster
Brianna Heylmann – UL Bohemian/Munster
Ivana Kiripati – American International College/Connacht
Roisin Maher – Galwegians/Connacht
Amanda McQuade – Ealing Trailfinders/IQ Rugby
Lily Morris – Killarney/Munster
Eadaoin Murtagh – Old Belvedere/Leinster
Jane Neill – Galwegians/Leinster (CAPTAIN)
Cliodhna Ni Chonchobhair – Blackrock College/Leinster
Faith Oviawe – Railway Union/Connacht
Hannah Wilson – Old Belvedere/Leinster
BACKS:
Clara Barrett – UL Bohemian/Connacht
Ellen Boylan – Blackrock College/Munster
Hannah Clarke – Tuam/Oughterard/Connacht
Kate Flannery – UL Bohemian/Munster (VICE CAPTAIN)
Jade Gaffney – Old Belvedere/Leinster
Niamh Gallagher – Saracens/IQ Rugby
May Goulding – Saracens/Old Albanian Saints/IQ Rugby
Lucia Linn – Loughborough University/IQ Rugby
Éabha Ni Dhonnacha – Tuam/Oughterard/UL Bohemian/Connacht
Robyn O’Connor – Wexford Wanderers/Leinster
Ellie O’Sullivan-Sexton – Mullingar/Leinster
Chisom Ugwueru – UL Bohemian/Munster
Ireland will kick off their Six Nations Summer Series campaign v England on 4th July at 17:30, streamed live on the U6N Women’s Summer Series YouTube channel.
