Clara player selected in Ireland squad for Women's Six Nations campaign
Clara native Aoife Dalton has been selected in the Ireland squad for the upcoming Guinness Women's Six Nations campaign.
The Leinster representative is one of five players from the Midlands region chosen to represent Ireland in the 2025 championship.
Moydrum native Anna McGann, Aoibheann Reilly from Creagh, Ballinasloe's Béibhinn Parsons and Katie Heffernan from Mullingar are also included in the squad.
Heffernan is one of eight uncapped players in the preparation squad of 40 players named by Ireland head coach Scott Bemand. The other uncapped players are Alma Atagamen, Jane Neill, Beth Buttimer, Jane Clohessy, Sophie Barrett, Amy Larn and Caitríona Finn.
The group will assemble for a camp at the IRFU High Performance Centre next Monday, February 17 as Ireland build towards the opening game of the 2025 Championship against France at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday, March 22 (kick-off 1pm).
Unfortunately Sam Monaghan, who co-captained Ireland alongside Edel McMahon during last year’s Six Nations, has been ruled out of the Championship through injury.
Following the opening game against France in Belfast, Ireland will travel to Parma to face Italy in Round 2 on Sunday, March 30 (3pm).
Bemand’s side then welcome England to Virgin Media Park in Round 3 on Saturday, April 12 (4.45pm), followed by a trip to Newport to face Wales on Sunday, April 20 (3pm). Ireland conclude the Championship at Edinburgh’s Hive Stadium against Scotland on Saturday, April 26 (2.30pm).
Commenting on the squad announcement, Bemand said: “We’re delighted to select a really strong blend of 40 players in total to assemble and prepare for the start of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations, while also building towards Rugby World Cup 2025. We’ll come together in Dublin next Monday and reconnect as a group, laying the foundations for the opportunities ahead.
“Following on from successes during the WXV1 campaign in Vancouver, we have been impressed by the hard work and application of the players as they have returned to club action in recent months. The focus and determination of players as they’ve attacked Celtic Challenge training with the Clovers and Wolfhounds has been particularly pleasing.
“We showed positive growth and evolution over the course of 2024 and the group are excited to get back in together to continue that work as we look towards the opening game against France in Belfast, which will provide a big challenge for us but we’re relishing the opportunity to perform in green while taking the home support along with us,” he added.
2025 Women’s Six Nations - Ireland preparation squad
Forwards (22):
Alma Atagamen (Balbriggan RFC)
Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)(11 caps)
Beth Buttimer (UL Bohemian RFC)
Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)(27)
Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)(19)
Claire Boles (Railway Union RFC/Ulster)(3)
Cliodhna Moloney (Exeter Chiefs)(38)
Deirbhile Nic a Bháird (Old Belvedere RFC/Munster)(11)
Dorothy Wall (Exeter Chiefs/Munster)(32)
Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht)(30)
Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC)(4)
Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)(10)
Grace Moore (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby)(17)
Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)
Jane Neill (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(41)
Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury)(30)
Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(11)
Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(2)
Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster)(13)
Siobhán McCarthy (Worcester Warriors/Munster)(4)
Sophie Barrett (Railway Union RFC/Ulster).
Backs (18):
Amee-Leigh Costigan (Railway Union RFC/Munster)(13 caps)
Amy Larn (Athy RFC)*
Anna McGann (Railway Union RFC)(6)
Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)(12)
Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(18)
Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)(26)
Caitríona Finn (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)*
Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(19)
Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC)(10)
Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)(25)
Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC)(21)
Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere RFC)(5)
Katie Heffernan (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)*
Méabh Deely (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)(13)
Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Leinster)(20)
Nicole Fowley (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)(14)
Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC)(14)
Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC)(1).