One that got away, for now, for The Dubs
Round Towers GAA and former Dublin forward, Hannah Tyrrell, will win her Ireland Women senior debut, against Italy, on Friday. Tyrrell, who has impressed on the Sevens circuit with Ireland has been named on the right wing by new Ireland Women’s coach, Tom Tierney.
Tyrrell first came to the senior squad’s attention when she ran in two tries at the European Sevens Grand Prix in Moscow last summer. She is named in a backline that features captain Niamh Briggs at fullback and Jenny Murphy slotting in at outside centre beside Jackie Shiels.
There are a further five uncapped players on the Irish bench, including Sarah Mimnagh, Fiona O’Brien, Katie Norris, Katie Fitzhenry and Sene Naoupu. Up front, Gillian Bourke is named at hooker and will be joined by Ruth O’Reilly and Ailis Egan in the front row. A familiar look second row sees Marie Louise Reilly and Sophie Spence take position. Paula Fitzpatrick, Claire Molloy and Heather O’Brien complete the pack.
Tierney said “There is a natural changeover with the number of players retiring after last season, but there is a core group of senior players that are very experienced and talented. We also have a number of younger players who are very talented and have a lot of promise so it’s a good mix. It’s going to be a very tough game over in Italy, we are under no illusions, but we are going over there very confident that we will be competitive.’
IRELAND WOMEN
Briggs (captain); Tyrrell, Murphy, Shiels, Miller; Stapleton, Muldoon; O’Reilly, Bourke, Egan; Reilly, Spence; Fitzpatrick, Molloy, O’Brien
Replacements: Mimnagh, Hayes, O’Brien, Fitzsimons, Norris, Rosser, Fitzhenry, Naoupu.
*The game kicks off at 7pm (Irish time) will be streamed live on www.Federugby.it and www.youtube.com/fedrugby
Under 21s
The Ireland U21s [men] also have a new hand at the coaching tiller. Nigel Carolan has six players returning to his squad that featured in last year’s competition.
Garry Ringrose, who trained with the senior Ireland squad in November, is named outside centre while Nick McCarthy starts at scrum-half, alongside Ross Byrne for a match that kicks off at 6pm (Irish time) on Friday.
U21s: Billy Dardis; Greg O’Shea, Garry Ringrose, Fergal Cleary, Jack Owens; Ross Byrne, Nick McCarthy (captain); Jeremy Loughman, Zack McCall, Oisin Heffernan; David O’Connor, Alex Thompson; Josh Murphy, Rory Moloney, Lorcan Dow.
Replacements: Adam McBurney, Michael Lagan, Conan O’Donnell, Cian Romaine, Nick Timoney, Jack Cullen, Joey Carbery, Sam Arnold.
Legends
Recently retired Leinster lock, Leo Cullen, and Ulster centre Paddy Wallace will take part in his first Legends match, against England, at Donnybrook on February 28 [kick-off 7:30pm].
Legends Squad:Â Simon Best, Shane Byrne, Trevor Brennan, David Corkery, Leo Cullen, Jan Cunningham, Kieran Dawson, Mick Galwey, Gary Halpin, Marcus Horan, Paddy Johns, John Kelly, Simon Mason, Stan McDowell, Nick Popplewell, Frankie Sheahan, Jeremy Staunton, Liam Toland, James Topping, Paddy Wallace.
