The teams for the first Women’s Autumn International were announced yesterday as Ireland officially start their preparations for the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
It’s been good for Ireland Women that the International panel has got considerably more game time in the All Ireland League this season but attrition appears to have left coach Tom Tierney light on options, with quite a few of the 2014 WRWC legacy players missing for various reasons. Niamh Briggs and Sophie Spence being two notable absentees.
It’s also a team light on Ulster based players, there being none in the squad; though Dublin based ex Belfast Harlequins player Nikki Caughey has been included on the bench. Former Ulster player Larissa Muldoon starts at scrum half and Poppy Cleall, who played for Ulster in 2011 alongside Caughey and Muldoon, will pick up her fifth England cap should she make an appearance from the bench.
Cooke’s Claire McLaughlin, who is in the training squad, has only had one competitive game this season, due to rehab, but may feature later . . .
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