Six Connacht players named in Ireland Women's squad for November Intl's

The Ireland Women's squad for the November Test matches against the USA and England has been announced.

Head coach Adam Griggs has included six Connacht players, two of whom are development players.

They are Beibhinn Parsons and Aoibheann Reilly, co-captains and key players in the Connacht Under-18s' historic Interpro trophy win this month. The four other Connacht players included are Laura Feely, Nicole Fowley, Nichola Fryday and Edel McMahon.

Speaking about the squad selection, Adam Griggs said: "The coaching group are really excited to name this side for the November series. We are up against two good teams and it's a good chance to blood new talent and get in preparation ahead of the Six Nations."This year we have included three development players in the panel. They are going to be fully immersed in the squad with an eye on fast tracking their development and making sure in a year or two they will be ready to go at international level. In saying that, when they come in to compete with the other players in the squad, if they are doing their job well, they have every chance of being selected.

"A number of the squad, including the likes of Claire Molloy, are playing in the English Tyrrells Premiership or have qualified through the IQ Rugby system, which is really helping us identify and add to our pathway for female players.

"We're working closely with our colleagues in IQ Rugby and special mention must go to Wayne Mitchell who has helped us throughout our screening days over the summer, along with his and IQ Rugby's continued support of the players which helps us to stay in contact with their clubs and monitor them to ensure we are be up to date on their performances and well-being."

IRELAND WOMEN'S Squad (2018 November Tests (USA & England)):
Enya Breen (Bantry Bay/Munster) *
Anna Caplice (Richmond/IQ Rugby)
Nikki Caughey (Railway Union/Leinster)
Michelle Claffey (Blackrock/Leinster)
Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Ciara Cooney (Railway Union/Leinster)
Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Jeamie Deacon (Blackrock/Leinster)
Lauren Delany (Firwood Waterloo/IQ Rugby) *
Daisy Earle (Railway Union/Leinster) *^
Laura Feely (Galwegians /Connacht)
Nicole Fowley (Galwegians/Connacht)
Nichola Fryday (Galwegians/Connacht)
Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Emma Hooban (St. Mary's/Leinster) *
Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster)
Leah Lyons (Harlequins/IQ Rugby)
Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/Leinster)
Claire McLaughlin (Cooke/Ulster)
Edel McMahon (Galwegians/Connacht)
Sarah Mimnagh (Wasps/IQ Rugby)
Claire Molloy (Wasps/IQ Rugby)
Cliodhna Moloney (Wasps/IQ Rugby)
Ellen Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster) *
Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Beibhinn Parsons (Ballinasloe/Connacht) *^
Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster)
Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Aoibheann Reilly (Ballinasloe/Connacht) *^
Laura Sheehan ( UL Bohemians/Munster) *
Juliet Short (Railway Union/Leinster) *
* Denotes uncapped player at this level
^ Denotes development player

2018 IRELAND WOMEN'S NOVEMBER INTERNATIONALS:

IRELAND WOMEN v USA Women
Energia Park, Donnybrook - Sunday, November 18, kick-off 1pm

England Women v IRELAND WOMEN
Twickenham Stadium, London - Saturday, November 24, kick-off 5.40pm

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