Major shake-up in Ireland Women’s Six Nations squad

It’s only five months since Ireland made history at the Women’s Rugby World Cup by beating New Zealand in the pool stages and reaching the semi-finals, but the personnel changes since have been seismic.

Head coach Philip Doyle called time on his long involvement. So did his assistant Greg McWilliams, team manager Gemma Crowley, captain Fiona Coghlan and fellow veteran Lynn Cantwell. And that transition continued yesterday with a Six Nations squad minus nine of those who served at the global tournament.

Siobhan Fleming, Laura Guest, and Grace Davitt have retired. Ashleigh Baxter and Sharon Lynch are injured while Hannah Casey hasn’t made the cut on this occasion.