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…
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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
