Kilmihil native Eimear Considine has been named in the Irish Women’s Rugby squad for the upcoming 6 Nations.
She is one of five uncapped players included in head coach Tom Tierney’s thirty woman squad. Props Ciara O’Connor and Ilse Van Staden along with half-backs Ailsa Hughes and Jemma Jackson are the new faces. Fullback Niamh Briggs will captain the side having missed the November Internationals through injury.
Eimear made her competitive debut for Munster at the beginning of last month and in the intervening period has impressed significantly to earn an international call-up. She was also part of the Irish Sevens team that narrowly missed out on qualification for the Rio Olympics.
Prior to taking up the sport in 2015, Considine was an accomplished dual player for her county excelling in both camogie and ladies football. She played inter-county at all levels before making the step-up to senior where she lined out in the full-forward line for the footballers and usually at wing-back for the camogie side. While her loss is still felt by both teams, her former teammates are more than happy to see her achieving in another sport.
Ireland begin their Six Nations away to Scotland on Friday 3 February. They will be minus the services of injured Sophie Spence for the encounter.
Tierney will be using the championship to build towards this summer’s World Cup which Ireland host in August.
Forwards:
Elaine Anthony (Highfield / Munster)
Anna Caplice (UL Bohemians / Munster)
Ciara Cooney (Railway Union / Leinster)
Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s College / Leinster)
Orla Fitzsimons (St. Mary’s College / Leinster)
Nichola Fryday (Tullamore / Connacht)
Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians / Munster)
Leah Lyons (Highfield / Munster)
Claire Molloy (Bristol / Connacht)
Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union / Leinster)
Heather O’Brien (Highfield / Munster)
Ciara O’Connor (Galwegians / Connacht)
Ruth O’Reilly (Galwegians / Connacht)
Lindsay Peat (Railway Union / Leinster)
Marie-Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Ilse Van Staden (Cooke / Ulster)
Backs:
Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians / Munster) Captain
Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians / Munster)
Mairead Coyne (Galwegians / Connacht)
Aine Donnelly (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Mary Healy (Galwegians / Connacht)
Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union / Leinster)
Jemma Jackson (Cooke / Ulster)
Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians / Munster)
Claire McLaughlin (Cooke / Ulster)
Alison Miller (Old Belvedere / Connacht)
Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Sene Naoupu (Ayslesford Bulls)
Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere / Leinster)