Ireland include seven uncapped players in 36-player WXV squad
Ireland have named a 36-player squad for this autumn's WXV Global Series that includes seven uncapped players who impressed in the Women's Interprovincial Championship.
The seven uncapped selections are forwards Jemima Adams Verling, Sophie Barrett, Beth Buttimer and Kate Jordan, plus backs Caitriona Finn, Lucia Linn and Alana McInerney. "It's particularly pleasing to see seven uncapped players included," said head coach Scott Bemand.
Bemand noted the Interpro performances as a factor in selection and several of the new call-ups have recent involvement with national training groups: Munster's Beth Buttimer, Caitriona Finn and Alana McInerney were part of the wider Six Nations squad this year, as were Connacht's Jemima Adams Verling and Ulster prop Sophie Barrett.
Second row Kate Jordan and centre Lucia Linn have been called up to the national panel for the first time. Munster have won all three of their Interprovincial games and will face Leinster in the competition final on Saturday.
Connacht wing Beibhinn Parsons is included in the panel despite missing her province's first three Interpro games through injury. Bemand has also selected eight Ireland-based players who play their club rugby in England: Gloucester Hartpury trio Neve Jones, Niamh O'Dowd and Sam Monaghan, Brittany Hogan (Sale Sharks), Niamh Gallagher (Trailfinders) and Exeter pair Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald and Dorothy Wall; there is no place for Chiefs team-mate Nancy McGillivray.
The full 36-player panel is as follows. Forwards: Jemima Adams Verling, Sophie Barrett, Beth Buttimer, Eilis Cahill, Ruth Campbell, Jane Clohessy, Linda Djougang, Brittany Hogan, Neve Jones, Kate Jordan, Erin King, Sadhbh McGrath, Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald, Sam Monaghan, Grace Moore, Niamh O'Dowd, Fiona Tuite O'Sullivan, Ailish Quinn, Aoife Wafer, Dorothy Wall. Backs: Enya Breen, Aoife Dalton, Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Caitriona Finn, Stacey Flood, Niamh Gallagher, Eve Higgins, Emily Lane, Lucia Linn, Anna McGann, Alana McInerney, Robyn O'Connor, Dannah O'Brien, Beibhinn Parsons, Aoibheann Reilly, Katie Whelan.
Ireland's WXV schedule is: 20 September: Ireland v USA, Dublin (13:45 BST); 27 September: Ireland v Japan, Galway (12:45 BST); 3 October: Ireland v Japan, Cork (14:00 BST) — a fixture that does not form part of the series; 24 October: South Africa v Ireland, Cape Town (14:00 BST); 31 October: South Africa v Ireland, Cape Town (13:00 GMT).