THE IRISH WOMEN’S sevens squad has been named for the next leg of the World Series, with Anthony Eddy’s side looking to continue on an upward curve when they travel to Japan.
Ireland have reached the quarter-final stage in each of the last two tournaments, in Las Vegas and Sydney, and go into this month’s event in Kitakyushu with an experienced panel.
Eddy has included nine of the squad from Vegas while Kim Flood, Louise Galvin, Katie Heffernan and Emma Murphy have been added to make up the 13-player travelling party.
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Sene Naoupu and Hannah Tyrrell are once again included after controversially missing the Six Nations game against France to play in Las Vegas.
Ireland will face Fiji in their opening game of the Pool B campaign before meeting Australia and Brazil when the tournament kicks off on Saturday 22 April.
“We have an experienced side travelling to Japan next week for the fourth stage of the World Sevens Series,” Eddy said.
“We have managed to make the quarter finals in the last two tournaments, so that will be a target for us again in Japan. Hopefully we can have a productive Day 2 and achieve some really good results.
“The players have worked extremely hard and have shown good improvement all year, so I am sure they are looking forward to the Japan tournament to build on their performances.
“It will be a challenge however, as we face the ever-improving Brazil, Fiji, who we are very familiar with having met them regularly throughout the series and Australia, who are the reigning Series holders as well as Olympic Gold Medalists – but it’s a challenge the players are excited about and looking forward to.”
Ireland squad for Japan:
Ashleigh Baxter (Cooke / Ulster)
Claire Keohane (UL Bohemians / Munster)
Kim Flood (Railway Union / Leinster)
Stacey Flood (Railway Union / Leinster)
Louise Galvin (UL Bohemians / Munster)
Katie Heffernan (Mullingar RFC & Railway Union / Leinster)
Lucy Mulhall (Rathdrum RFC / Leinster) (captain)
Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe (Railway Union / Munster)
Sene Naoupu (Aylesford Bulls)
Audrey O’Flynn (Ireland Sevens Programme)
Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Megan Williams (Ireland Sevens Programme)
Emma Murphy (Railway Union / Leinster)
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Ireland call on Naoupu and Tyrrell for next leg of World Sevens Series
THE IRISH WOMEN’S sevens squad has been named for the next leg of the World Series, with Anthony Eddy’s side looking to continue on an upward curve when they travel to Japan.
Ireland have reached the quarter-final stage in each of the last two tournaments, in Las Vegas and Sydney, and go into this month’s event in Kitakyushu with an experienced panel.
Eddy has included nine of the squad from Vegas while Kim Flood, Louise Galvin, Katie Heffernan and Emma Murphy have been added to make up the 13-player travelling party.
Sene Naoupu and Hannah Tyrrell are once again included after controversially missing the Six Nations game against France to play in Las Vegas.
Ireland will face Fiji in their opening game of the Pool B campaign before meeting Australia and Brazil when the tournament kicks off on Saturday 22 April.
“We have an experienced side travelling to Japan next week for the fourth stage of the World Sevens Series,” Eddy said.
“The players have worked extremely hard and have shown good improvement all year, so I am sure they are looking forward to the Japan tournament to build on their performances.
“It will be a challenge however, as we face the ever-improving Brazil, Fiji, who we are very familiar with having met them regularly throughout the series and Australia, who are the reigning Series holders as well as Olympic Gold Medalists – but it’s a challenge the players are excited about and looking forward to.”
Ireland squad for Japan:
Ashleigh Baxter (Cooke / Ulster)
Claire Keohane (UL Bohemians / Munster)
Kim Flood (Railway Union / Leinster)
Stacey Flood (Railway Union / Leinster)
Louise Galvin (UL Bohemians / Munster)
Katie Heffernan (Mullingar RFC & Railway Union / Leinster)
Lucy Mulhall (Rathdrum RFC / Leinster) (captain)
Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe (Railway Union / Munster)
Sene Naoupu (Aylesford Bulls)
Audrey O’Flynn (Ireland Sevens Programme)
Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Megan Williams (Ireland Sevens Programme)
Emma Murphy (Railway Union / Leinster)
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