IRFU - Ireland Women's Sevens Squad named for Rugby Europe Grand Prix

Director of Women's and Sevens Rugby, Anthony Eddy has named the Ireland Women's Sevens squad to travel to Malemort, France to compete in the second leg of the Rugby Europe Sevens Grand Prix this weekend.

The squad contains two new caps, Chloe Blackmore and Katie Heffernan who have both come through the U18 player development programme and will play in their first Senior Sevens competition this weekend.

Both players competed at last year's Rugby Europe U18 Grand Prix, where Blackmore was team captain.

Ireland have been drawn in Pool C with GB Lions, whom they lost out to in the 3rd/ 4th place play-off of the first leg, as well as Italy and Belgium.

They will face Italy in their first game of the day, followed by Belgium and will end Day 1 against GB Lions.

The Grand Prix will be Ireland's last competitive competition before taking part in the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series, which starts in Dubai on the 1st December.
Ahead of the squad departing, Eddy said;

"There is a good balance to the squad that has been selected for this weekend's tournament in Malemort. 

Ten of the players who have been selected competed at the World Rugby Women's Sevens last season, so they are all aware of what is required to do well at a tournament such as this.

We then have two new caps in Chloe Blackmore and Katie Heffernan. They have both come through the player development pathway and are very promising players.

We're in a challenging pool with GB Lions, Italy and Belgium, all of whom will have their own strengths, but the squad have had a very positive pre-season and have been training hard, so they are all looking forward to getting back onto the field and competing.”

Ireland Women's Sevens Squad
Ashleigh Baxter (Cooke RFC / Ulster)
Chloe Blackmore (St. Mary's College RFC / Munster)*
Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock College RFC / Leinster)
Kim Flood (Railway Union / Leinster)
Stacey Flood (Railway Union / Leinster)
Katie Heffernan (Mullingar RFC / Leinster)*
Claire Keohane (UL Bohemians / Munster)
Lucy Mulhall (Rathdrum / Leinster) Captain
Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe (Railway Union / Munster)
Audrey O'Flynn (Talent ID)
Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Megan Williams (St. Mary's College RFC)
 
*Denotes new caps
 
Rugby Europe Women's Sevens Grand Prix, Malemort, France (24th/25th Sept)
Day 1
Ireland Women's 7s v Italy Women's 7s – 11.22am (local time) / 10.22am (Irish time)
Ireland Women's 7s v Belgium Women's 7s – 2.07pm (local time) / 1.07pm (Irish time)
Ireland Women's 7s v GB Lions – 4.52pm (local time) / 3.52pm (Irish time)
 
Day 2
Play-Offs
 
Games will be broadcast live via www.rugbyeurope.tv