Niamh Briggs names squad for Women’s U-20 Six Nations Summer Series in Italy
The Ireland Women's U20s squad, sponsored by PwC, has been named for the inaugural Six Nations Women's Summer Series in Italy.
Following a series of camps at the IRFU High Performance Centre and a training camp in England, head coach Niamh Briggs has selected a squad of 28 players to travel to Parma, where Ireland will face England, Italy and Scotland.
Galwegians forward Jane Neill has been named captain, while Kate Flannery of UL Bohemian is vice-captain.
With each team permitted to include three U23 players in their match day squad, Briggs has selected Ruth Campbell, Amanda McQuade, Chisom Ugwueru, Faith Oviawe and Ivana Kiripati to travel.
Ireland's opening match is against England on Thursday, 4 July (Kick-off 5.30pm Irish time), before Briggs' side face Italy in Match Day 2 on Tuesday, 9 July (Kick-off 9am Irish time).
The campaign concludes against Scotland on Sunday, 14 July (Kick-off 9am), with all matches streamed live on the Six Nations U20 YouTube Channel, as well on IrishRugby.ie.
Hannah Wilson, Clara Barrett, Kiripati, Campbell, Neill and Flannery all featured in last year’s Ireland U20 squad in a series of matches against Scotland and Italy.
Six players named in the travelling squad featured in this year's Energia All-Ireland League Final at Aviva Stadium, including Player of the Match Ugwueru, as well as Beth Buttimer, Brianna Heylmann, Faith Oviawe, Éabha Nic Dhonnacha and Flannery.
“It’s exciting for all of us to be part of this tournament. Having these structures in place at U18 and U20 is important in helping the players to develop and bridge the gap to senior internationals,” said Briggs.
"This gives players time to expose themselves to better opposition and I suppose expose themselves to higher level rugby, expose themselves to camp and the environment that that brings.”
Ireland U20 Women’s Squad
Forwards: Sophie Barrett, Grainne Burke, Kelly Burke, Beth Buttimer, Ruth Campbell, Aoibheann Hahessy, Brianna Heylmann, Ivana Kiripati, Roisin Maher, Amanda McQuade, Lily Morris, Eadaoin Murtagh, Jane Neill, Cliodhna Ni Chonchobhair, Faith Oviawe, Hannah Wilson.
Backs: Clara Barrett, Ellen Boylan, Hannah Clarke, Kate Flannery, Jade Gaffney, Niamh Gallagher, May Goulding, Lucia Linn, Éabha Ni Dhonnacha, Robyn O'Connor, Ellie O'Sullivan-Sexton, Chisom Ugwueru.
FIXTURES
U20 Six Nations Women's Summer Series
England v Ireland, Thursday, July 4, KO 5.30pm Irish time
Ireland v Italy, Tuesday, July 9, 9am Irish time
Ireland v Scotland, Sunday, July 14, 9am Irish time
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