Ireland Women’s Sevens captain Lucy Mulhall has been included in the Ireland squad for the upcoming Rugby World Cup qualifying tournament in Italy with head coach Adam Griggs also selecting two other uncapped players.
Leinster’s Mulhall is joined by provincial teammate Mary Healy and Wasps’ Sam Monaghan in the 28-woman squad who will look to seal a place at the Women’s Rugby World Cup which takes place next year in New Zealand.
Ireland will meet Spain this coming Monday September 13th before facing Italy and Scotland in the qualifying tournament.
Mulhall is one of 12 backs named in the travelling squad, with the likes of Eimear Considine, Stacey Flood, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe and Beibhinn Parsons providing Griggs with an array of exciting attacking options for the three-game, round-robin campaign at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.
There is plenty of experience among Ireland’s forwards, as Ciara Griffin once again captains the squad and Edel McMahon returns to the fold having missed the Women’s Six Nations campaign through injury.
“This was a difficult selection process with the quality we have in the squad, however we have selected players who have performed consistently well throughout our training camps in the HPC and earned this opportunity,” said Griggs.
“It’s an exciting group including a good mix of experienced players who have been involved in big Test matches and understand the detail, preparation and intensity required to win at this level. We are looking forward to heading to Parma and fine-tuning our game for Spain first and foremost.
“While we can only focus on one game at a time, we won’t shy away from the end goal of this being a winner-takes-all tournament for participation at Rugby World Cup 2021. The players and staff are all highly motivated and focused on making sure we are successful as a group.”
Ireland Squad (Rugby World Cup 2021 Europe Qualifier)
Player/Club/Province/Caps
Backs (12): Enya Breen (UL Bohemian/Munster)(6 caps), Eimear Considine (UL Bohemian/Munster)(18), Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere/Ulster)(13), Lauren Delany (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby)(14), Stacey Flood (Railway Union/Leinster)(3), Eve Higgins (Railway Union/Leinster)(3), Emily Lane (Blackrock College/Munster)(3), Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster)(12), Lucy Mulhall (Rathdrum/Leinster)*, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union/Munster)(2), Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(41), Beibhinn Parsons (Ballinasloe/Blackrock College/Connacht)(11)
Forwards (16): Mary Healy (Naas RFC/Leinster)*, Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(12), Laura Feely (Blackrock College/Connacht)(19), Nichola Fryday (Blackrock College/Connacht)(18), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemian/Munster)(Captain)(36), Brittany Hogan (DCU/Old Belvedere/Ulster)(4), Neve Jones (Malone/Ulster)(3), Leah Lyons (Harlequins/IQ Rugby)(26), Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/ Leinster)(16), Edel McMahon (Wasps/IQ Rugby)(9), Claire Molloy (Wasps/IQ Rugby)(71), Cliodhna Moloney (Wasps/IQ Rugby)(26), Sam Monaghan (Wasps/IQ Rugby)*, Katie O'Dwyer (Railway Union/Leinster)(3), Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster)(34), Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College/Munster)(7)
Rugby World Cup 2021 Europe Qualifier Schedule
All games to be played at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
Monday, 13th September: Spain v Ireland (6pm local time/5pm Irish time)
Sunday, 19th September: Italy v Ireland (3pm local time/2pm Irish time)
Saturday, 25th September: Ireland v Scotland (6pm local time/5pm Irish time).
