Ireland name 36-player squad for Women's Six Nations

The squad features eight uncapped players

Dorothy Wall, who missed last year's World Cup due to injury, has been named in Ireland's Six Nations squad. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Scott Bemand has announced his squad for the upcoming Six Nations. Led by new captain Erin King, who missed last year’s World Cup in England with injury, it also includes Dorothy Wall who sat out the tournament for the same reason.

Nine of those who featured in that run to the quarter-final stages are missing, including the experienced pair of Edel McMahon up front and Amee-Leigh Costigan on the wing.

McMahon is out for the season having undergone surgery on a knee injury which forced her to miss two World Cup matches last year, including the last eight loss to France.

Costigan announced to the national group in January that she was pregnant with twins and taking a break from rugby.

The squad also features eight uncapped players, most of who have impressed in the recent Celtic Challenge games.

Forwards Beth Buttimer, Jemima Adams Verling, Eilís Cahill, Aoibheann McGrath and Sophie Barrett are joined by Alana McInerney, Caitriona Finn, Niamh Gallagher, and Robyn O’Connor in the backs.

Ireland open their Championship in London against England’s world champions before hosting Italy at Dexcom Stadium on Saturday, April 18 in what will be the first Women's Six Nations match in Galway.

The team then travels to France in on Saturday, April 25 before back-to-back home games at in Belfast and Dublin. Wales visit Affidea Stadium in Round 4 on Saturday, May 9 before Scotland come to the Aviva Stadium on the final weekend on Sunday, May 17.

Over 15,000 tickets have already been sold for the first ever standalone women's match at the venue.

Ireland squad:

Forwards (21):

Jemima Adams Verling (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)*, Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen RFC/Cooke RFC/Ulster)*, Beth Buttimer (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)*, Eilís Cahill (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)*, Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Brittany Hogan (Sale Sharks/Ulster), Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(captain), Aoibheann McGrath (Ballincollig RFC/Munster)*, Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster), Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs), Sam Monaghan (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ Rugby), Grace Moore (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby), Niamh O’Dowd (Gloucester-Hartpury/Leinster), Ellena Perry (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ Rugby), Ailish Quinn (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)Aoife Wafer (Harlequins/Leinster), Dorothy Wall (Exeter Chiefs/Munster).

Backs (15):

Alana McInerney (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)*, Anna McGann (Railway Union RFC/Connacht), Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht), Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht), Caitríona Finn (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)*, Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC/Munster), Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC/Munster), Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC/Leinster), Nancy McGillivray (Exeter Chiefs/IQ Rugby), Niamh Gallagher (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby)*, Robyn O’Connor (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)*, Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC/Leinster), Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC/Leinster).