A fresh breeze of new found optimish is sweeping through Irish rugby as Scott Bemand, the newly appointed head coach of the Ireland Women's XV's, announced his first 30-player training squad for the upcoming WXV3 competition in Dubai. A sense of hope and anticipation is slow building once again as Bemand, a former professional rugby union player and one of the key pillars to the England women's rugby success, takes the reins and steers his new Irish team towards an exciting new chapter.
Appointed in July, Bemand has wasted no time in assembling an extended group of players to convene at the IRFU High Performance Centre. This will mark the commencement of rigorous preparations for the new WXV3 campaign, set to unfold in October. The inaugural WXV3 competition is already generating buzz among rugby fans, and Ireland's entry into this international event adds a dash of thrill to the mix.
Scott Bemand has named a 30-player squad ahead of the inaugural three-game WXV3 competition in Dubaihttps://t.co/R12DWfwWvz
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) August 30, 2023
Drawing inspiration from the ongoing Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship, Bemand's squad announcement carries an air of renewal. Impressively, five uncapped players have caught the discerning eye of the new Ireland coaching staff. Among these budding talents, forwards Fiona Tuite, Sarah Delany, and Siobhan McCarthy showcase their prowess alongside promising young backs Clara Barrett and Katie Whelan, who earn their inaugural call-ups to the senior squad.
A commendable touch is the inclusion of players who've traversed the U20s journey. Delany, Barrett, and Whelan, integral parts of Ireland Women's U20s during their tour to Italy in June, now step onto a bigger stage, a testament to their progress and potential. Excitingly, the squad also welcomes back Ireland Sevens superstars Béibhinn Parsons and Eve Higgins, who secured Olympic qualification earlier this year.
Furthermore, Bemand has strategically chosen six players, Eimear Corri, India Daley, Kayla Waldron, Leah Tarpey, Megan Collis, and Ruth Campbell, to train alongside the core squad during the preparatory camps. This emphasis on a collaborative training environment underlines the collective spirit that Bemand seeks to create.
☘️ Irish Women’s Squad named for inaugural WXV3 competition
Congratulations to Senior Women's players Fiona, Sadhbh, Brittany and India on their call-ups 🤝
Also, a shoutout to Ulster pathway players, Neve Jones and Vicky Irwin! 🙌
Full Squad 👇 https://t.co/06ksPwmL62— Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) August 30, 2023
Speaking about the squad selection, Bemand commented, "Having had the chance to settle into the role and connect with players and staff, I'm thrilled to unveil our WXV3 training squad. The remarkable performances in the Vodafone Women's Interprovincial Championship have guided our choices, resulting in an exhilarating blend of young talent and seasoned experience for the impending competition."
Eyes now shift towards Dubai, where Ireland faces an exciting challenge. The WXV3 opener against Kazakhstan on October 13th will set the stage for Ireland's maiden appearance in the competition. A battle with Colombia on October 21st at The Sevens Stadium awaits, followed by a showdown against Spain on October 28th, marking the conclusion of the campaign. The energy is palpable, and the anticipation among fans is reaching a crescendo as they prepare to rally behind their women in green.
Scott Bemand's appointment as the new head coach reflects a strategic step by the IRFU to elevate the women's game in Ireland. His remarkable coaching journey from a professional rugby player to a seasoned coach has left an indelible mark, especially during his tenure as England's Lead Coach, where he was part of numerous Six Nations triumphs and World Cup glories.
In his own words upon taking the reins, Bemand stated, "I'm proud to join the IRFU at this exciting juncture for women's rugby in Ireland. The IRFU's ambitions to nurture the women's game are palpable, and I believe we have a rich reservoir of talent that can script a new era. I eagerly look forward to collaborating with players and fellow coaches, shaping a path that propels Irish women's rugby to new heights."
Ireland Women's Training Squad:
Forwards:
Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)
Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird (Old Belvedere RFC/Munster)
Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)
Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht)
Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)*
Grace Moore (Saracens/IQ Rugby)
Kathryn Buggy (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ Rugby)
Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Maeve Óg O’Leary (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)
Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury/Ulster)
Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Sadhbh McGrath (City of Derry/Cooke RFC/Ulster)
Sam Monaghan (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ Rugby)
Sarah Delaney (Cill Dara RFC/Leinster)*
Siobhan McCarthy (Worcester Warriors/Munster)*
Backs:
Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)
Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Aoife Doyle (Railway Union RFC/Munster)
Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)
Clara Barrett (Ballina RFC/Connacht)*
Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
Katie Whelan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)*
Méabh Deely (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)
Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
Nicole Fowley (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
Natasja Behan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Vicky Irwin (Sale Sharks/Ulster).
*Denotes uncapped
Additional Players:
Eimear Corri (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
India Daley (Cooke RFC/Ulster)
Kayla Waldron (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
Leah Tarpey (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
Megan Collis (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
Ruth Campbell (MU Barnhall RFC/Leinster)
WXV3 Fixtures:
The Sevens Stadium, Dubai
Ireland v Kazakhstan, Friday 13 October
Ireland v Colombia, Saturday 21 October
Ireland v Spain, Saturday 28 October
