12 Leinster Rugby players selected in Irish women’s Six Nations squad

February 28, 2023 1:26 pm Paul Cahill

Ireland Women’s Head Coach Greg McWilliams has named a 32-player squad for the TikTok Six Nations which includes 12 Leinster Rugby players.

Niamh O’Dowd of Old Belvedere, Molly Boyne of Railway Union RFC and Wicklow RFC’s Ella Roberts are the three uncapped Leinster players included in the squad. All three represented the Combined Provinces side in the recent Celtic Challenge tournament.

Christy Haney, Linda Djougang and Hannah O’Connor join Molly Boyne and Niamh O’Dowd as the forwards selected from Leinster Rugby.

There are seven backs in the squad with Molly Scuffil-McCabe, Ailsa Hughes, Dannah O’Brien, Aoife Wafer, Aoife Dalton, Natasja Behan and Ella Roberts all selected.

Ireland open their Championship away to Wales at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday, 25 March (Kick-off 2.15pm, live on RTÉ2), before facing France at Musgrave Park in Cork on Saturday, 1 April (Kick-off 3.15pm, live on Virgin Media).

Ireland Squad, TikTok Women’s Six Nations:

Forwards (18):

Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)*
Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster)*
Kathryn Buggy (Gloucester-Hartbury/IQ Rugby)*
Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartbury/Ulster)
Clara Nielson (Exeter Chiefs/IQ Rugby)*
Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird (Old Belvedere RFC/Munster)
Nichola Fryday (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht)(captain)
Sam Monaghan (Gloucester-Hartbury/IQ Rugby)
Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)*
Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)
Grace Moore (Saracens/IQ Rugby)
Maeve Óg O’Leary (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)
Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht)
Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)
Molly Boyne (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)*

Backs (14):

Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
Emma Swords (Harlequins/IQ Rugby)*
Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)
Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)
Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Vicky Irwin (Sale Sharks/Ulster)
Méabh Deely (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)
Aoife Doyle (Railway Union RFC/Munster)
Natasja Behan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Ella Roberts (Wicklow RFC/Leinster)*
Lauren Delany (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby).