{"id":375652,"date":"2026-04-01T01:51:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T01:51:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/375652\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T01:51:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T01:51:13","slug":"irish-rugby-ireland-squad-confirmed-for-u-18-womens-six-nations-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/375652\/","title":{"rendered":"Irish Rugby | Ireland Squad Confirmed For U-18 Women\u2019s Six Nations Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Ireland Under-18 Women\u2019s squad (sponsored by PwC) for the U-18 Women\u2019s Six Nations Festival, at Wellington College in England, has been announced by head coach Craig Hansberry.<\/p>\n

The U-18 Women\u2019s Festival runs over Easter with Ireland playing two full matches and two 35-minute games, beginning with a clash with France this Thursday (kick-off 2.15pm). All the matches will be live on irishrugby+<\/a> and the Six Nations U-20 YouTube channel<\/a>.<\/a><\/p>\n

Promising forward Usha Daly O\u2019Toole is one of 13 players returning from last year\u2019s Ireland squad. She has played 10 times for Wicklow in the Energia All-Ireland League this season, and recently made her debut off the bench for the Wolfhounds in the Celtic Challenge.<\/p>\n

Daly O\u2019Toole, Emma Jane Wilson, and R\u00f3is\u00edn Power feature in the Ireland U-18 group for the third season in a row. Front rowers Wilson and Uilinn Eilian, the Tuam starlet, also bring Celtic Challenge experience, with the latter playing over 260 minutes in six appearances for the Clovers.<\/p>\n

Ireland enjoyed an excellent run during the 2025 Six Nations Festival at the same venue, recording wins over Italy, tournament hosts England, and Scotland, and then losing 14-0 to France before drawing 24-all with Wales on the final day.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Ella and Alice Buckley, the daughters of former Munster and Ireland prop Tony, are set to don the green jersey together, with Ella one of the returning forwards from last year, along with Diana Izekor, Olivia McKinley, and IQ Rugby\u2019s Lucia Dickinson.<\/p>\n

Cooke scrum half Amy McConkey, a try scorer against Italy and Scotland last April, has graced this stage before, as have fellow backs Caitlin Crowe, Aoife Heaney, Lily Byrne, and Lani O\u2019Donovan, one of four representatives from Clonakilty.<\/p>\n

Hansberry, a Women\u2019s Rugby Development Officer and age-grade head coach at Connacht Rugby, is coaching the Ireland U-18s for the first time. He is assisted by former Ireland international Michelle Claffey.<\/p>\n

Their preparations for the tournament in Berkshire have included a couple of training camps and a recent training game against England at the IRFU\u2019s High Performance Centre.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

IRELAND UNDER-18 WOMEN\u2019S Squad (2026 Under-18 Women\u2019s Six Nations Festival, Wellington College, England, Thursday, April 2-Friday, April 10, 2026):<\/p>\n

Forwards (20) \u2013<\/p>\n

Alice Buckley (Kanturk RFC\/Ballincollig RFC\/Munster Rugby)
Ella Buckley (Ballincollig RFC\/Munster Rugby)
Usha Daly O\u2019Toole (Wicklow RFC\/Leinster Rugby)
Lucia Dickinson (IQ Rugby)
Uilinn Eilian (Tuam RFC\/Connacht Rugby)
Katie Griffin (Loughrea RFC\/Connacht Rugby)
Molly Hennessy (New Ross RFC\/Leinster Rugby)
Diana Izekor (Longford RFC\/Leinster Rugby)
Cairin Kearns (Gort RFC\/Connacht Rugby)
Evie Kennedy (Ballina RFC\/Connacht Rugby)
R\u00f3is\u00edn\u00a0Kinch (Tullow RFC\/Leinster Rugby)
Anna McDermott (Ballinasloe RFC\/Connacht Rugby)
Olivia McKinley (Banbridge RFC\/Ulster Rugby)
Lily Murphy (Tullow RFC\/Leinster Rugby)
Niamh O\u2019Mahony (Dolphin RFC\/Munster Rugby)
Ruby Osumah (Tullamore RFC\/Leinster Rugby)
R\u00f3is\u00edn\u00a0Power (Ballinasloe RFC\/Connacht Rugby)
Mia Rowan (Longford RFC\/Leinster Rugby)
Coumba Sow (Clontarf FC\/Leinster Rugby)
Emma Jane Wilson (Cill Dara RFC\/Leinster Rugby)<\/p>\n

Backs (13) \u2013<\/p>\n

Jess Briody (Mullingar RFC\/Leinster Rugby)
Lily Byrne (Dolphin RFC\/Munster Rugby)
Caitlin Crowe (Virginia RFC\/Ulster Rugby)
Julie Finn (Clonakilty RFC\/Munster Rugby)
Aoife Heaney (Tuam RFC\/Claremorris RFC\/Connacht Rugby)
Abi Kelly (Ennis RFC\/Munster Rugby)
Clodagh McCarthy (Clonakilty RFC\/Munster Rugby)
Jo McCaughey (Clonakilty RFC\/Munster Rugby)
Amy McConkey (Cooke RFC\/Ulster Rugby)
Lani O\u2019Donovan (Clonakilty RFC\/Munster Rugby)
R\u00f3is\u00edn\u00a0O\u2019Sullivan (Ballinasloe RFC\/Connacht Rugby)
Kitty Sweeney (Westport RFC\/Connacht Rugby)
Sophia White (Arklow RFC\/Leinster Rugby)<\/p>\n

IRELAND UNDER-18 WOMEN\u2019S Management Team \u2013<\/p>\n

Head Coach: Craig Hansberry
Assistant Coach: Michelle Claffey
Team Manager: Siobh\u00e1n Barrett
Athletic Development Coach: Paul Heasley
Physio: Eva McPartlan
Doctor: Mathew Dockel
Analyst: Ollie Smyth<\/p>\n

IRELAND UNDER-18 WOMEN\u2019S Fixtures:<\/p>\n

Thursday, April 2 \u2013<\/p>\n

Ireland v France, Wellington College, 2.15pm<\/p>\n

Monday, April 6 \u2013<\/p>\n

Ireland v England, Wellington College, 1pm (35-minute match)
Scotland v Ireland, Wellington College, 2pm (35-minute match)<\/p>\n

Friday, April 10 \u2013<\/p>\n

Ireland v Italy, Wellington College, 2.15pm<\/p>\n


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