A thirteen woman squad has been named for the Amsterdam Sevens tournament this weekend as preparations continue for the Women’s sevens squad in their bid to qualify for the IRB Sevens World Cup in 2013.
Following the winning run at the Kinsale 7s, the women’s sevens programme enters the next phase with the step up to the Amsterdam 7s which is frequently used by national sides to prepare for the FIRA qualifying leagues that lead to the IRB Sevens World Cup.
Ireland coach Jon Skurr has named a thirteen strong squad for the trip to the Netherlands that includes a mix of seasoned internationals from the 6 Nations squad – Lynne Cantwell, Joy Neville and Amy Davis alongside some newer faces such as Ashleigh Baxter and Claire Keohane.
Amsterdam 7s is not a full international tournament so the team will play under the name “Irish Lightning”.
Speaking at their training camp at Aviva Stadium last weekend Ireland Coach John Skurr said: “We are five weeks in to the programme and it was great to go undefeated at Kinsale. Amsterdam is a step up and a real chance for us and the girls to measure themselves against their peers in Europe.”
The squad face a demanding schedule in the coming weeks as they to travel to London for another warm up tournament before debuting in Ghent in the FIRA Qualifying tournament where they need to finish in the top two to progress.
Skurr commented: “It is a tough programme but the girls have really bought into it. By the end of the process we will know where we stand and we can see what the pool of players is like.”
Ireland Women’s Sevens Squad (Amsterdam 7s 2012)
Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Lynne Cantwell (Richmond/Exiles)
Nikki Caughey (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Amy Davis (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Jeannette Feighery (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Shannon Houston (Blackrock College/Leinster)
Ashling Hutchings (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Claire Keohane (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Leinster)
Claire Molloy (Bristol/Exiles)
Joy Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Laura O’Mahony (Tralee/Munster)
Sophie Spence (Howden Park Sharks/Exiles)
The Ireland Management has today announced the squad for the summer tour game against the Barbarians in Gloucester on May 29th.
The squad comprises of players from Connacht, Munster and Ulster as none of the teams will have any involvement in the RaboDirect Pro 12 final, which takes place in Dublin on Sunday, 14th May the day before the squad is due to depart Ireland for the Barbarians game.
Any Leinster players that are selected for the Ireland tour to New Zealand and who play in the Rabodirect Pro12 final will join up with the squad in Gloucester.
The squad itself contains seven uncapped players with experienced internationals Ronan O’Gara, Donncha O’Callaghan and Rory Best providing the spine of the squad. Front row forwards Mike Sherry, Ronan Loughney and Declan Fitzpatrick are included, with Simon Zebo, Craig Gilroy, Nevin Spence and Paul Marshall in the backs.
Two spots have been left open and will be filled next week before the team travel to Gloucester. The Ireland squad to tour New Zealand will be announced on the Monday following the Heineken Cup final, so it is possible that several players who face the Barbarians may not be part of the final tour squad.
Second Row Paul O’Connell was not considered for the Barbarians squad as he continues to make progress in his rehabilitation for a knee injury. He has not been ruled out of contention and a final decision on his availability will be made after the Barbarians game.
Ireland Coach Declan Kidney said: “The game against the Baa-Ba’s is vital for us in our preparations for the tour as it gives some players the chance to gain match fitness if they have not played for a couple of weeks, allows us to further expose some players to the national set up and also gives us the opportunity to get some foundations in place for the test series.
“We have a good majority of our selections decided on for the tour party at this point, but the Heineken final gives us possibly one last opportunity to watch players in what will be a massive occasion for Irish Rugby.”
Forwards (13):
Rory Best (Banbridge-Ulster)
Tom Court (Malone-Ulster)
Stephen Ferris (Dungannon-Ulster)
Declan Fitzpatrick (Dungannon-Ulster)*
Chris Henry (Belfast Harlequins-Ulster)
Ronan Loughney (Galwegians-Connacht)*
John Muldoon (Galwegians-Connacht)
Donncha O’Callaghan (Cork Constitution-Munster)
Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution-Munster)
Donnacha Ryan (Shannon-Munster)
Mike Sherry (Garryowen-Munster)*
Dan Tuohy (Ballymena-Ulster)
A.N.Other
Backs (11):
Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins-Ulster)
Keith Earls (Young Munster-Munster)
Craig Gilroy (Dungannon-Ulster)*
Paul Marshall (Ballynahinch-Ulster)*
Conor Murray (Garryowen-Munster)
Ronan O’Gara (Cork Constitution-Munster)
Nevin Spence (Ballynahinch-Ulster)*
Andrew Trimble (Ballymena-Ulster)
Paddy Wallace (Ballymena-Ulster)
Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution)*
A.N. Other
