Doyle freshens panel with 10 newcomers

IRELAND coach Philip Doyle has named a 31 strong squad for the RBS Women’s 6 Nations Championship.

Fiona Coghlan will captain the side for her third season with Doyle introducing 10 new players to his panel.

Doyle said: “I’m delighted with the squad this year. We have a lot of young and upcoming players coming through the system. Selection was the toughest since the World Cup which bodes well for the forthcoming Six Nations Tournament.” Ireland open their campaign with a home fixture on Friday, February 3rd against Wales.

IRELAND WOMEN’S SQUAD: C Arthurs (Tralee, Connacht)*, A Baxter (Belfast Harlequins, Ulster)*, G Bourke (UL Bohemian, Munster), N Briggs (UL Bohemian, Munster), H Brosnan (Highfield, Munster), L Cantwell (Exile), N Caughey (Belfast Harlequins, Ulster)* F Coghlan (UL Bohemian, Leinster), A Davis (Blackrock, Leinster), G Davitt (Cooke, Ulster), L Day (Cooke, Ulster), A Egan (Old Belvedere, Leinster), P Fitzpatrick (St. Mary´s, Leinster)*, S Fleming (Tralee, Munster)*, L Guest (Highfield, Munster), S Houston (Blackrock, Leinster), A Hutchings (UL Bohemian, Munster)*, N Kavanagh (UL Bohemian, Munster), S-Lea Kennedy (City of Derry, Ulster) G Mellon (City of Derry, Ulster)*, A Miller (Portlaoise/Highfield, Connacht), C Molloy (Bristol, Exile), L Muldoon (Exile / UWIC, Ulster), J Neville (UL Bohemian, Munster), H O’Brien (Highfield, Munster), L O’Mahony (Tralee, Munster)*, R O’Reilly (Galwegians, Connacht)* M, Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere, Leinster) T Rosser (Blackrock, Leinster), S Spence (Exile)*, C Staunton (Galwegians, Connacht).

*Denotes uncapped Player.

2012 Fixtures (all times Irish): Friday: February 3: Ireland v Wales, Ashbourne RFC, 7.30pm.

Saturday, February 11: France v Ireland, Stade de Hameau, Pau, 5.30pm.

Friday, February 24: Ireland v Italy, Ashbourne RFC, 7.30pm.

Friday, March 9: Ireland v Scotland, Ashbourne RFC, 7.30pm.

Saturday, March 17: England v Ireland ,Esher RFC, London, 2.30pm