Ireland Women have named eight uncapped players in their 29-player squad to face Wales in a Six Nations warm-up fixture this weekend.
Head coach Adam Griggs has selected a raft of untried international players for the clash, including forwards Linda Djougang, Anne Marie O’Hora, Hannah O’Connor and Claire Boles.
Meanwhile, uncapped backs Kathryn Dane, Claire Keohane, Ailbhe Dowling and Enya Breen are all handed the chance to impress at Donnybrook ahead of Ireland’s Women’s Six Nations opener against England.
Griggs said: “We have had two very productive training camps since Christmas and the players have been working hard to make sure we carry on from the good performance we had in our last autumn international against England in Twickenham.
“While we didn’t get the result we were after in that game the players took a big step in terms of their development and now have a feel for what is required at international level.
“It’s great to get a warm up fixture for the Six Nations of this quality where we will be able to try out some new combinations and really test ourselves in what we have been doing in camp together.
“We are missing some key players who are unavailable to us due to injury which is unfortunate and not ideal at the start of the Six Nations, but it is a chance to give some very talented new faces an opportunity to put their hands up and show us they can compete at international level.”
Tickets for Ireland Women’s Six Nations opener against England can be purchased here
Ireland’s squad to face Wales:
Claire Boles (Ulster)*
Enya Breen (Munster) *
Michelle Claffey (Leinster)
Anna Caplice (Richmond)
Eimear Considine (Munster)
Kathryn Dane (Ulster) *
Lauren Delany (IQ Rugby)
Linda Djougang (Leinster) *
Ailbhe Dowling (Leinster) *
Laura Feely (Connacht)
Nicole Fowley (Connacht)
Nichola Fryday (Connacht)
Ciara Griffin (Munster)
Emma Hooban (Leinster)
Ailsa Hughes (Leinster)
Claire Keohane (Munster) *
Leah Lyons (Harlequins)
Aoife McDermott (Leinster)
Claire McLaughlin (Ulster)
Alison Miller (Connacht)
Claire Molloy (Wasps)
Ellen Murphy (Leinster)
Sene Naoupu (Leinster)
Hannah O’Connor (Leinster) *
Anne Marie O’Hora (Connacht)*
Fiona Reidy (Munster)
Laura Sheehan (Munster)
Juliet Short (Leinster)
Megan Williams (Leinster)
*Denotes Uncapped player at this level
