{"id":353055,"date":"2026-03-18T19:16:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T19:16:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/353055\/"},"modified":"2026-03-18T19:16:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T19:16:10","slug":"scott-bemand-continues-building-irelands-depth-as-nine-uncapped-players-named-in-six-nations-squad-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/353055\/","title":{"rendered":"Scott Bemand continues building Ireland\u2019s depth as nine uncapped players named in Six Nations squad \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Scott Bemand<\/a> is not quite sure exactly how many matches he\u2019s watched, or miles he\u2019s travelled, since Ireland\u2019s<\/a> agonising World Cup quarter-final defeat (18-13) to France last September, but both figures are considerable.<\/p>\n

On the day when the IRFU<\/a> announced that the Irish head coach had signed a contract extension that will keep him at the helm up to and including the 2029 World Cup in Australia, the 47-year-old Bemand unveiled a new-look extended Ireland squad for the upcoming Six Nations<\/a> that includes nine uncapped players.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s been in charge since 2023, appointed about a month before Ireland travelled to the Women\u2019s XV tournament looking to qualify for last year\u2019s World Cup finals in England. The progress has been evolutionary rather than revolutionary, but the incremental rise in fortune has touched on some notable markers.<\/p>\n

Bemand said: \u201cThe depth\u00a0and breadth of the playing group that we now have is significantly diffedifferent from it was.\u00a0There\u2019s a lot more contenders, the squad is eminently more competitive to get into. You\u2019ll notice that we\u2019ve left out some very good\u00a0players, and they will continue to stay ready should anything happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

He pointed to the growth in depth, and the hustle in getting as many matches as possible in terms of the Celtic Challenge, but also Premiership Women\u2019s Rugby (PWR) in England. He continued: \u201cWe\u2019re bringing in some IQ (Irish qualified) players, and\u00a0we\u2019ve brought in some new players coming up through the pathway within Ireland.\u201d<\/p>\n

That influx of youth will overlap with the senior squad as a three-round Under-21 tournament will run concurrently with the senior one. On Saturday April 18th, the Ireland women\u2019s team will play a first Six Nations game in the Dexcom Stadium, Italy the opposition, and the curtain raiser will be the Under-21 international between the countries. That\u2019s a landmark and milestone rolled into one.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was there last Sunday when they [Under-21s] played Canada. Bits of that they got right,\u00a0bits of it were a little bit chastening,\u201d explained Bemand, who has named five players from that age-grade in the senior squad. If they\u2019re not required for matchday squads they will revert to the 21s.<\/p>\n

When Bemand took stock after the World Cup, depth was a pivotal issue. Tournaments place a huge wear and tear on frontline players and those countries that are successful are able to rotate personnel.<\/p>\n

\"IrelandIreland women’s head coach Scott Bemand has signed an extension to his contract up to the 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Photograph: Ben Brady\/Inpho <\/p>\n

\u201cWe need more people coming through so that the burden of work can be\u00a0absorbed in a better way. You don\u2019t always have to pick your strongest [team],\u201d he explained. Other lessons included being more ruthless in the opposition 22, and more robust in the maul, attack and defence.<\/p>\n

Erin King<\/a> will captain the Ireland team. Bemand had no qualms about handing the leadership baton to a 22-year-old, citing Sam Warburton as an example. \u201cErin leads with energy. She role-models every session. She\u2019s somebody that people want to follow. She tries to get better every single session, whether that be rugby, gym,\u00a0[or] analysis.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s quite inspiring. We saw somebody [in Erin] role-modelling those behaviours and that would try and take people along with her. Clearly, she\u2019s got growth to go in terms of the leadership,\u00a0but it\u2019s how you support leaders. You put people on either side. We call it a leadership\u00a0triangle, put people on either side of her who will be able to support her both emotionally and\/or\u00a0tactically on a pitch.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd she\u2019s going to grow over the next three and a half years. By the time\u00a0we get to the next World Cup, we\u2019ve got somebody that\u2019s got three years of [leadership] experience and has put her own stamp on how to lead. It doesn\u2019t have to be perfect now, but people must be able to grow into that space.\u201d<\/p>\n

There are nine new faces in the squad, forwards\u00a0Beth Buttimer,\u00a0Jemima Adams Verling,\u00a0Eil\u00eds Cahill,\u00a0Aoibheann McGrath\u00a0and\u00a0Sophie Barrett,\u00a0along with backs Alana McInerney,\u00a0Caitr\u00edona Finn,\u00a0Niamh Gallagher, and\u00a0Robyn O\u2019Connor. The influx means that a similar number that were there last year missed out.<\/p>\n

Amee-Leigh Costigan is expecting twins, Edel McMahon and Claire Boles are injured, while Eimear Corri Fallon and Nicole Fowley have retired. Although based in New Zealand, Molly Scuffil-McCabe was available for selection, as were M\u00e9abh Deely, Siobh\u00e1n McCarthy and Ivana Kiripati. The quartet remain players of interest.<\/p>\n

Ireland open their Six Nations campaign against England at Twickenham in their first game since winning the World Cup at the stadium. It is on course to attract a crowd of 80,000 plus. Bemand\u2019s charges take Italy at the Dexcom Stadium on Saturday, April 18th (kick-off 5.40pm), while Ireland\u2019s second home match will be played at the Affidea Stadium in Belfast on Saturday, May 9th against Wales (kick-off 6.30pm).<\/p>\n

The Irish side face France at Clermont\u2019s Stade Marcel Michelin on Saturday, April 25th\u00a0(kick-off 8.10pm Irish time) while the final home match will be another little slice of history when they host Scotland for the first time as a standalone fixture at the Aviva Stadium. Over 15,000 tickets have already been sold for the match.<\/p>\n

Ireland squad for 2026 Women\u2019s Six Nations<\/p>\n

Forwards (21): Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen\/Cooke\/Ulster)*, Beth Buttimer (UL Bohemian\/Munster)*, Eil\u00eds Cahill (UL Bohemian\/Munster)*, Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere\/Leinster), Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemian\/Munster), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere\/Leinster), Brittany Hogan (Sale Sharks), Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), Erin King (Old Belvedere\/Leinster)(capt), Aoibheann McGrath (Ballincollig\/Munster)*, Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC\/Ulster), Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs), Sam Monaghan (Gloucester-Hartpury\/IQ Rugby), Grace Moore (Trailfinders Women\/IQ Rugby), Niamh O\u2019Dowd (Gloucester-Hartpury), Ellena Perry (Gloucester-Hartpury\/IQ Rugby), Ailish Quinn (Galwegians\/Connacht), Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere\/Ulster), Jemima Adams Verling (Galwegians\/Connacht)*, Aoife Wafer (Harlequins), Dorothy Wall (Exeter Chiefs).<\/p>\n

Backs (15): Enya Breen (Blackrock College\/Munster), Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere\/Leinster), Eve Higgins (Railway Union\/Leinster), Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow\/Leinster), Caitr\u00edona Finn (UL Bohemian\/Munster)*, Stacey Flood (Railway Union\/Leinster), Niamh Gallagher (Trailfinders Women\/IQ Rugby)*, Emily Lane (Blackrock College\/Munster), Anna McGann (Railway Union\/Connacht), Nancy McGillivray (Exeter Chiefs\/IQ Rugby), Alana McInerney (UL Bohemian\/Munster)*, Dannah O\u2019Brien (Old Belvedere\/Leinster), Robyn O\u2019Connor (Old Belvedere\/Leinster)*, B\u00e9ibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College\/Connacht), Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College\/Connacht).<\/p>\n

* denotes uncapped <\/p>\n

Fixtures (all times Irish) <\/p>\n

Round 1 <\/p>\n

Saturday, April 11th<\/p>\n

France v Italy, 12.25pm, Stade des Alpes<\/p>\n

England v Ireland, 2.45pm, Twickenham <\/p>\n

Wales v Scotland, 4.40pm, Principality Stadium<\/p>\n

Round 2 <\/p>\n

Saturday, April 18th<\/p>\n

Scotland v England, .30pm, Murrayfield<\/p>\n

Wales v France, 3.35pm, Cardiff Arms Park<\/p>\n

Ireland v Italy, 5.40pm, Dexcom Stadium<\/p>\n

Round 3 <\/p>\n

Saturday, April 25th<\/p>\n

England v Wales, 2.15pm, Ashton Gate<\/p>\n

Italy v Scotland, 4.30pm, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi<\/p>\n

France v Ireland, 8.10pm, Stade Marcel-Michelin<\/p>\n

Round 4 <\/p>\n

Saturday, May 9th<\/p>\n

Italy v England, 2pm, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi<\/p>\n

Scotland v France, 4.15pm, Hive Stadium<\/p>\n

Ireland v Wales, 6.30pm, Affidea Stadium<\/p>\n

Round 5 <\/p>\n

Sunday, May 17th<\/p>\n

Wales v Italy, 12.15pm, Cardiff Arms Park<\/p>\n

Ireland v Scotland, 2.30pm, Aviva Stadium<\/p>\n

France v England, 4.45pm, Matmut Atlantique<\/p>\n

Follow our rugby WhatsApp channel<\/p>\n

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If you want the latest rugby news, analysis and opinion then you should follow our dedicated WhatsApp channel. From Gerry Thornley to Owen Doyle and Gordon D\u2019Arcy, we have every angle covered.<\/p>\n

Find the channel here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Scott Bemand is not quite sure exactly how many matches he\u2019s watched, or miles he\u2019s travelled, since Ireland\u2019s…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":353056,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[123980,61,60,1449,43,2447,123979],"class_list":["post-353055","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ireland","tag-erin-king","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-ireland-rugby","tag-news","tag-scott-bemand","tag-women-s-six-nations"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/353055","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=353055"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/353055\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/353056"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=353055"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=353055"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=353055"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}