Clovers and Wolfhounds squads named for Celtic Challenge
NEW COLOURS: Dannah O’Brien and Maeve Óg O’Leary. Pic: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
The Clovers and Wolfhounds squads have been named for the Celtic Challenge.
The two Irish teams competing in this year’s competition will see two provinces combining namely; Connacht and Munster (Clovers), and Leinster and Ulster (Wolfhounds).
Included in the squads are a mix of Ireland internationals and players from the Energia Women’s All-Ireland League.
IRFU Head of Women’s Performance and Pathways, Gillian McDarby said: "The Celtic Challenge is an integral tournament for the development of Women’s rugby players in Ireland and will play a significant role in the player pathway moving forward."
"Players named within the Clovers and Wolfhound squads have come through our rugby pathways. The Celtic Challenge competition provides players the opportunity to be exposed to a high performance training environment supported by our National Coaches and management teams.
"The competition structure will support their development and ensure that players are in the best position to compete in the Women’s Six Nations."
This season’s tournament will span 11 weeks and will culminate on Sunday, 3 March 2024, with all Irish home games played across three venues; Musgrave Park, Energia Park and Kingspan Stadium.
The competition will adopt a new format which will be made up of five rounds. Round 1 will see a derby day clash for the home unions with their respective sides facing off for the first time.
Lily Brady (UL Bohemians/Connacht) Clare Bennett (UL Bohemians/Munster) Beth Buttimer (UL Bohemians/Munster) Eilis Cahill (UL Bohemians/Munster) Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere/Leinster) Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemians/Munster) Brianna Heylman (UL Bohemians/Munster) Eva McCormack (UL Bohemians/Connacht) Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke/Ulster) Jane Neill (Galwegians/Leinster) Maeve Óg O'Leary (Blackrock/Munster) Niamh O Dowd (Old Belvedere/Leinster) Roisin Ormond (Ballincollig/Munster) Faith Ovawie (Railway Union/Connacht) Shannon Touhey (Tullamore/Connacht) Dorothy Wall (Blackrock/Munster)
Clara Barrett (UL Bohemians/Connacht) Ellen Boylan (Blackrock/Munster) Aoife Corey (UL Bohemians/Munster) Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemians/Munster) Maebh Deely (Blackrock/Connacht) Aoife Doyle (Railway Union/Munster) Kate Flannery (UL Bohemians/Munster) Clare Gorman (Old Belvedere/Leinster) Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster) Laoise McGonagle (UL Bohemians/Connacht) Alana McInerney (UL Bohemians/Munster) Michelle O’Driscoll (Ballincollig/Munster) Chisom Ugwueru (UL Bohemians/Munster) Kayla Waldron (Railway Union/Connacht)
Head Coach - Denis Fogarty
Assistant Coach - Niamh Briggs
Development Coach - Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird
Physio - Ciaran Purcell
S&C Coach - Lorna Barry
Team Manager - Natalie Fox
Sophie Barrett (Railway Union/Ulster) Molly Boyne (Railway Union/Leinster) Keelin Brady (Railway Union/Ulster) Maebh Clenaghan (Queens University/Ulster) Megan Collis (Railway Union/Leinster) Eimear Corri (Blackrock/Leinster) India Daley (Blackrock/Ulster) Sarah Delaney (Blackrock/Leinster) Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster) Christy Haney (Blackrock/Leinster) Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere/Ulster) Aoife Moore (Blackrock/Leinster) Eadain Murtagh (Old Belvedere/Leinster) Hannah O'Connor (Blackrock/Leinster) Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere/Ulster) Aoife Wafer (Blackrock/Leinster)
Natasja Behan (Blackrock/Leinster) Nikki Caughey (Railway Union/Leinster) Aimee Clarke (Railway Union/Leinster) Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere/Leinster) Ella Durkan (Blackrock/Ulster) Jade Gaffney (Old Belvedere/Leinster) Niamh Marley (Cooke/Ulster) Erin McConnell (Wicklow/Leinster) Kelly McCormil (Cooke/Ulster) Dannah O'Brien (Old Belvedere/Leinster) Ava Ryder (Railway Union/Connacht) Leah Tarpey (Railway Union/Leinster) Katie Whelan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Head Coach - Neil Alcorn
Assistant Coach - Michelle Claffey
Development Coach - Judy Bobbett S&C Coach - Greg Hollins
Physio - Naomi Hamilton
Team Manager - Marianne Breen
- Wolfhounds v Clovers: Friday, 29 December 2023, Musgrave Park – kick-off 4pm
- Edinburgh Rugby v Wolfhounds: Saturday 6th January 2024, Hive Stadium – kick-off 2pm
- Clovers v West Wales: Saturday, January 06, 2024, Energia Park – kick off 2.30pm
- Glasgow Warriors v Wolfhounds: Saturday, 13th January 2024, Scotstoun Stadium – kick-off 2pm
- Clovers v East Wales: Sunday, January 14, 2024, Musgrave Park – kick-off 1pm
- Wolfhounds v West Wales: Saturday, January 27, 2024, Kingspan Stadium – kick-off 7.30pm
- Glasgow Warriors v Clovers: Saturday, 27th January 2024, Scotstoun Stadium – kick-off 2pm
- Wolfhounds v East Wales: Saturday, February 03, 2024, Energia Park – kick-off 2.30pm
- Edinburgh Rugby v Clovers: Saturday, 3rd February 2024, Hive Stadium – kick-off 12:30pm
- Saturday 17, February 2024, Scotstoun Stadium
- Saturday, February 24, 2024, Kingspan Stadium
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