The Ireland Women’s Sevens management team have selected a squad of 12, five of which are from Munster, to travel to the Amsterdam 7s Invitational Tournament this weekend.
The squad contains a number of players with World Sevens Series experience. Shannon Houston, Katie Fitzhenry and Claire Keohane (who will captain the side) all played in the Canada 7s last month, while the likes of Eimear Considine, Elaine Ryan and Nicole Cronin have all represented their country at World Series competitions.
Jeamie Deacon and Liz Burke both made their debuts for the Ireland Women’s 15s side this season and are joined in the squad by their 15s captain Niamh Briggs who recently joined up with the Sevens Programme.
Less experienced members of the squad include Emma Murphy and Chloe Blackmore, both of whom have represented their country in Sevens at underage level, with Blackmore captaining the U18 side at Rugby Europe Grand Prix in Belgium last September.
Wexford’s Roisin Murphy will be playing with an Irish Sevens side for the first time in Amsterdam.
The Wexford Gaelic Football captain has been playing rugby with Gorey and has recently been training with the Sevens squad.
On the selection of the squad, Director of Sevens and Women’s Rugby, Anthony Eddy said;
“We’re coming into a very busy and important period for the Women’s Sevens programme. We have a team competing in the final stage of the World Series in Clermont this weekend and also have the European Championships and of course, the Olympic Repechage tournament coming up in UCD in June.
We have a very talented group of players in the programme and it’s important that they can play in as many competitive games as possible.
The side heading to Amsterdam has a wealth of experience, but it’s also really pleasing to see the likes of Emma, Chloe and Roisin all taking the next step in their development”.
Ireland are have been drawn in Pool A of the Amsterdam 7s Invitational Tournament with the Swiss Women’s Sevens, Amsterdam Ladies and Team Tangoed.
Ireland Women’s Sevens Development Squad– Amsterdam 7s Invitational
Chloe Blackmore (St.Mary’s / Munster)
Niamh Briggs (UL Bohs / Munster)
Liz Burke (UL Bohs / Munster)
Eimear Considine (Talent ID)
Nicole Cronin (Shannon RFC / Munster)
Jeamie Deacon (Blackrock College RFC / Leinster)
Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock College RFC / Leinster)
Shannon Houston (Blackrock College RFC / Leinster)
Claire Keohane (UL Bohs / Munster) Captain
Emma Murphy (Railway Union / Leinster)
Roisin Murphy (Gorey RFC)
Elaine Ryan (Railway Union / Leinster)
Ireland Women’s Sevens Development Squad Fixtures – Amsterdam 7s Invitational (all times local)
Saturday 28th May 2016
Ireland Women’s Sevens Development v AAC Amsterdam Ladies – 10.20
Ireland Women’s Sevens Development v Team Tangoed – 12.20
Ireland Women’s Sevens Development v Swiss Women’s 7s – 14.20
