Rugby League Ireland Women are pleased to release their latest train on squad. Following a fantastic 30-6 victory over Italy in European Championship B in June, Ireland now prepare to face Wales in the second and final group game in October.
Speaking following the win in Italy, Head Coach John Whalley said: “Our last game against Italy was a really good hit out for us, in 37°c heat I have to pay credit to our girls for the way they stuck together and really worked hard for each other. Italy scored on the very last play of the game, which is a great lesson learned – you must play right till the very end in test matches. I think that trip certainly brought us all closer together as a group.
Ahead of the next match, Whalley has picked a train-on squad: “I’ve gone with a 26-squad early and these players will all train together. We have come away from split camps in Ireland and the UK as this will allow us to really focus on the detail as a group knowing exactly what is expected later in the year.
“I have left four spots open for people to return or enter the squad. It has become a real competition for places and that is exactly what we want at this level.”
He added: “We will hold camps in July, August and September and this is something new to the group as in past times we normally get a camp or a couple of hours before our fixtures together, this will allow us to really bond as a team both on and off the field. Having these 3 dates will give us the opportunities to really work on our structures in attack and defence, working hard on our combinations within our sections making sure we are connected across the field.”
26-player squad in full:
Philippa Birchall (St Helens), Louise Burgess (Oxford Cavaliers), Steph Carroll, Noreen Cassidy (both Dublin City Exiles), Storm Cobain (Bedford Tigers), Ali Coleman (Dublin City Exiles), Fran Copley (Featherstone Rovers), Roisin Crowe, Emma Curran, Clodagh Dunne (all Dublin City Exiles), Jemma Farrell (Old Belvedere), Stacy Hanley (Galway Tribeswomen), Gabby Harrison (Featherstone Rovers), Bettie Lambert (York City Knights), Ray Lawless, Orlaith McAuliffe (both Dublin City Exiles), Orla McCallion (Leeds Rhinos), Iona McCusker (London Broncos), Alex McGuinness (Dublin City Exiles), Luci McKeown (Salford Red Devils), Amy O’Neill, Faye O’Neill (both Dublin City Exiles), Mairead Quinn (Leigh Miners Rangers), Ella Synott (Galway Tribeswomen), Charlie Willett (Exeter Chiefs).
