SEVERAL local players have been named in the Ireland Squad for the inaugural Six Nations Women’s Under-20 Summer Series, about to get underway in Italy.
Niamh Briggs’ side will meet England today on Thursday (5.30pm, Irish time), before then facing Italy on Tuesday next and finally Scotland on Sunday, July 14.
The games are all listed for Parma.
All fixtures will be streamed on Irishrugby.ie.
The travelling party was chosen following a series of camps at the IRFU High Performance Centre, Dublin and a training camp in England.
Said Briggs: “It’s exciting for all of us to be part of this tournament. Having these structures in place at U18 and U20 is important in helping the players to develop and bridge the gap to senior internationals. This gives players time to expose themselves to better opposition and I suppose expose themselves to higher level rugby, expose themselves to camp and the environment that that brings.”
Not surprisingly, the panel includes a strong representation from League/Cup winners UL Bohemian courtesy of Beth Buttimer, Aoibheann Hahessy, Brianna Heylmann, Clara Barrett, Éabha Ni Dhonnacha, Chisom Ugwueru (Player-of-the-Match in the All-Ireland League Final following her three triy haul against Railway Union) and Kate Flannery, vice-captain.
Jane Neill of Galwegians and Leinster has been named captain.
Briggs is joined in the managemenet set-up by JP Walsh, Murray Houston, Paul Heasley, Aoife Healy, John McDonald, Niamh O’Donovan, Leanne Varley, Becky Irvine
The squad is supported by PwC Ireland.
It’s Managing Partner Enda McDonagh said: “Everyone at PwC is really excited about the inaugural U20 Women’s Six Nations Summer Series campaign in Parma. We wish Head Coach Niamh Briggs, her wider coaching team and all the players in the travelling squad the very best of luck.”
