Here's the Ireland 7s squad to take on 'the toughest group in Dubai'

Anthony Eddy is also sending a development squad to compete in the UAE.

IRELAND SEVENS DIRECTOR Anthony Eddy has named two women’s squads to travel to Dubai for the beginning of the new world series season.

Lucy Mulhall captains the senior squad for a tough first round of the series which sees Ireland pitted into a group containing the might of New Zealand, Fiji and France.

Ireland struggled with the heat of competition on the top tier of the Sevens game last season, but retained their place in the world series thanks to their performance in the Olympic qualification repechage in Dublin during the summer.

“Reclaiming our place is really important to the continued development of the Women’s Sevens programme here in Ireland,” says Eddy

“We’re in possibly the toughest group in Dubai, with New Zealand, France and Fiji, however the players have had a very positive pre-season. They have worked hard in the gym and on the training pitch and we had some challenge games with the French and English, so now the team are looking forward to getting the series underway and are looking into putting in a good performance in Dubai”

Alison Miller scores a try Ali Miller scoring during the Olympic repechage. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

Among those lining up behind Mulhall for the tournament kick off on Thursday 1 December will be 15-a-side star wingers Ashleigh Baxter and Alison Miller.

A development squad will also travel to the United Arab Emirate for an invitational tournament which will see them tackle Belgium, Poland and Kenya at the pool stage on Thursday.

That squad features U18 star Eve Higgins and Galwegians’ Nicole Fowley who will be fresh from making her international 15-a-side debut in the centre during this month’s November internationals.

Ireland Women’s 7s squad for round 1 of HSBC world series

Ashleigh Baxter – Cooke / Ulster
Nicole Cronin – Shannon / Munster
Aoife Doyle – Shannon / Munster
Katie Fitzhenry – Blackrock College RFC / Leinster
Kim Flood – Railway Union / Leinster
Stacey Flood – Railway Union / Leinster
Alison Miller – Old Belvedere / Connacht
Lucy Mulhall – Rathdrum RFC / Leinster
Emma Murphy – Railway Union / Leinster
Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe – Railway Union / Munster
Hannah Tyrrell – Old Belvedere / Leinster
Megan Williams – Ireland 7s Programme

Ireland Women’s 7s Dubai fixtures (to be broadcast on WorldRugby.org)

1 December:

Ireland v New Zealand – 9.06am (Irish time)
Ireland v France – 11.40pm (Irish time)
Ireland v Fiji – 2.20pm (Irish time)

Ireland’s Nicole Fowley Nicole Fowley in action against England this month. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

Ireland Women’s 7s development squad for Dubai invitational

Chloe Blackmore – St. Mary’s College / Munster
Claire Boles – Enniskillen / Ulster
Nicole Fowley – Galwegians / Connacht
Katie Heffernan – Mullingar / Leinster
Eve Higgins – Railway Unions / Leinster
Mairead Hopkins – Castlebar RFC / Connacht
Claire Keohane – UL Bohemians / Munster
Jackie Kinch – Ireland 7s Programme
Anna McGann – Buccaneers / Connacht
Elaine Ryan – Railway Union
Annette Tomas – Reading Abbey Ladies

Ireland Women’s development 7s fixtures

1 December:

Ireland Development v Belgium 7s – 6.20am (Irish time)
Ireland Development v Poland 7s – 8.40am (Irish time)
Ireland Development v Tribe 7s – 10.42am (Irish time)
Ireland Development v Kenya Lionesses – 2.40pm (Irish time)

Play-off stages for both tournaments to run on Friday 2 December

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