Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has revealed his 37-player preparation squad for the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England in August and September.
The initial squad contains two uncapped players, Balbriggan RFC’s Alma Atagamen and Creggs RFC’s Ivana Kiripati who are both included in the 21 forwards named.
Jane Clohessy and Aoife Corey have been rewarded with a call-up into the preparation squad having impressed on debut in the side’s final Six Nations match against Scotland this season.
Sarah Delaney, Shannon Ikahihifo, Sam Monaghan, Eimear Corri and Beibhinn Parsons make their return to the squad after missing both the WXV1 and Six Nations campaigns through injury.
Bemand has also added to his coaching team with James Scaysbrook joining as defence coach.
Scaysbrook, a former Bath and Exeter Chiefs flanker, transitioned into coaching after his playing career. He coached in Hong Kong and Japan before taking up a position as an England Under-20s defence coach. Since 2020, he has been with Coventry RFC.
The team will assemble at the IRFU High Performance Centre from Monday, 2 June and will undertake a series of camps before two home warm-up games against Scotland and Canada in early August.
“We’re excited to come back together as a group refreshed, recharged, and ready to build towards what promises to be a huge few months,” said Bemand.
“The competition for places in the final World Cup squad will be fierce, and I know the players will embrace that challenge.
“There’s great continuity within the squad, with many of the group having come through WXV1 last September, but we’ve also brought in some young talent who are hungry to make their mark. Now it’s about putting in the hard work. We’ve got a valuable block of time ahead to prepare, and we’re looking forward to the opportunity to test ourselves in front of home support in Cork and Belfast this August.”
Forwards: Alma Atagamen (Balbriggan RFC), Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster), Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Clíodhna Moloney (Exeter Chiefs), (Deirbhile Nic a Bháird (Old Belvedere RFC/Munster), Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht), Eimear Corri (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster), Grace Moore (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby), Ivana Kiripati (Creggs RFC/Connacht), Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Neve Jones (Gloucester Hartpury), Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster), Sam Monaghan (Gloucester Hartpury/IQ Rugby), Sarah Delaney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Shannon Ikahihifo (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby), Siobhán McCarthy (Railway Union RFC/Munster)
Backs: Amee-Leigh Costigan (Railway Union RFC/Munster), Anna McGann (Railway Union RFC), Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht), Aoife Corey (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht), Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC/Munster), Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC/Munster), Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC), Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Manawatū RFC/Leinster), Nicole Fowley (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC), Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC)
