Sligo’s Aoife McDermott could be in line for her first appearance for the Irish women’s team in Sunday’s Six Nations warm-up match against Wales.
The Rivertsown native has been named in the 25-person Irish squad for the game in Wales, just two years after switching from basketball to rugby.
McDermott told Ocean FM her progress in the sport has surprised even her…
Ballybofey native Laura Feely, a former Sligo Rugby Club player, and former IT Sligo student Kim Flood are also named in the Irish squad.
IRELAND WOMEN’S Squad (Six Nations Warm-Up Fixture v Wales Women, CCB Centre for Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, Sunday, January 21, kick-off 1pm):
Backs (11):
Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Michelle Claffey (Blackrock/Leinster) *
Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Kim Flood (Railway Union/Leinster)
Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster)
Claire McLaughlin (Cooke/Ulster)
Alison Miller (Old Belvedere/Connacht)
Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Annette Thomas (Abbey Ladies) *
Susan Vaughan (Railway Union/Leinster) *
Megan Williams (Old Belvedere/Leinster) *
Forwards (14):
Elaine Anthony (Highfield/Munster)
Anna Caplice (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Laura Feely (Galwegians/Connacht) *
Orla Fitzsimons (St. Mary’s/Leinster)
Nichola Fryday (Tullamore/Connacht)
Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt)
Leah Lyons (Highfield/Munster)
Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/Leinster) *
Edel McMahon ((Galwegians/Connacht) *
Claire Molloy (Bristol)
Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union/Leinster)
Ciara O’Connor (Galwegians/Connacht)
Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Ilse van Staden (Cooke/Ulster)
* Denotes uncapped player
IRELAND WOMEN – 2018 SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES:
France Women v Ireland Women, Stade Ernest Wallon, Toulouse, Saturday, February 3, 9pm local time/8pm Irish time
Ireland Women v Italy Women, Donnybrook, Sunday, February 11, 1pm
Ireland Women v Wales Women, Donnybrook, Sunday, February 25, 3pm
Ireland Women v Scotland Women, Donnybrook, Sunday, March 11, 1pm
England Women v Ireland Women, Ricoh Arena, Coventry, Friday, March 16, 5.30pm
