Scott Bemand names 30-player squad for upcoming WXV1 campaign

Four players made their Test debuts last weekend have been included in the travelling party.

SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Ireland’s Head Coach Scott Bemand has named a 30-player squad for the WXV1 campaign in Vancouver. Picture: INPHO/Billy Stickland

Ireland Women's Head Coach Scott Bemand has named a 30-player squad for the upcoming WXV1 campaign in Vancouver. 

Following their victory over Australia on Saturday in Irish Rugby's 150th Anniversary Test match the squad will rea-assemble at the IRFU High Performance Centre today before departing on Friday for Canada.

Four players made their Test debuts against the Wallaroos last weekend have been included in the travelling party. Ruth Campbell, Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Siobhan McCarthy and Erin King have been rewarded for their debut appearance.

Christy Haney has been ruled out of the three match series due to injury but Sadhbh McGrath has returned to full fitness and has been recalled with props Sophie Barrett and Andrea Stock two of the uncapped players named in the squad joining backs Katie Heffernan and Caitriona Finn.

Eimear Coinsidine is included in the squad after her return to the squad last weekend. Aimee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Eve Higgins, Stacey Flood, Katie Heffernan and Erin King make the switch from 7s to XV for the campaign.

Ireland will face New Zealand in the opening match at BC Place on Sunday September 29 (7pm local/3am Irish time). Bemand's side take on Canada in the second game at Langley Events Centre on Saturday October 5 (3.45pm local/11.45pm Irish time) and their final game against USA takes place on Friday October 11 (12.30pm local/8.30pm Irish time) in their WXV1 debut in Vancouver. 

Speaking on the team announcement Bemand is looking forward to the campaign “We are delighted to confirm our 30-player squad to travel to Vancouver for our debut appearance at WXV1. 

"We have spoken consistently about building strong squad depth within the group, and the performance against Australia and training intensity of the last two weeks, presented the Coaching Team with a number of difficult selection decisions.

“The performance and result on Saturday was a really pleasing start point for our season and as we re-assemble for camp in Dublin later today, the focus now turns to WXV1, preparing well for the challenges ahead and continuing to grow and evolve as a squad moving towards the tournament opener against the Black Ferns.”

All Ireland games will be available to stream on RugbyPass TV.

Ireland Squad – WXV1:

Forwards (17):

Sophie Barrett (Railway Union RFC/Ulster)* 

Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(1) 

Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(38) 

Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)(24) 

Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury)(27) 

Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC)(1) 

Siobhán McCarthy (Worcester Warriors/Munster)(1) 

Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster)(13) 

Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht)(29) 

Clíodhna Moloney (Exeter Chiefs)(35) 

Grace Moore (Ealing Trailfinders/IQ Rugby)(15) 

Deirbhile Nic a Bháird (Old Belvedere RFC/Munster)(9) 

Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(8) 

Andrea Stock (Ealing Trailfinders/IQ Rugby)* 

Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)(7) 

Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)(8) 

Dorothy Wall (Exeter Chiefs/Munster)(29) 

Backs (13):

Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)(22) 

Eimear Considine (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)(27) 

Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(15) 

Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC)(1) 

Caitríona Finn (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)* 

Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC)(11) 

Nicole Fowley (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)(12) 

Katie Heffernan (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)* 

Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC)(18) 

Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC)(7) 

Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union RFC/Munster)(10) 

Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Leinster)(17) 

Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(16) 

*Denotes uncapped players

WXV1 Fixtures:

Sunday, 29 September: Ireland v New Zealand, BC Place, 7pm local time/3am Irish time 

Saturday, 5 October: Ireland v Canada, Langley Events Centre, 3.45pm local time/11.45pm Irish time 

Friday, 11 October: Ireland v USA, BC Place, 12.30pm local time/8.30pm Irish time.