Head Coach Scott Bemand has today named a 36-player Ireland squad for the 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations.
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Captain Erin King will lead the team into the 2026 Championship, which kicks off on Saturday, 11 April, as Ireland travel to London to face England at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham (Kick-off 2.45pm).
Following a three-day connection camp at the IRFU High Performance Centre in Dublin in January, Bemand has included nine uncapped players in the squad. The team was unveiled today at a Squad Announcement and Media Day at the Ireland HQ in Dublin.
Forwards Beth Buttimer, Jemima Adams Verling, Eilís Cahill, Aoibheann McGrath, and Sophie Barrett are all in the selected group. They are joined by uncapped backs Alana McInerney, Caitriona Finn, Niamh Gallagher, and Robyn O’Connor, most of whom have recently impressed in the Celtic Challenge.
Ireland will begin their Championship in London before hosting Italy at Dexcom Stadium on Saturday, 18 April (Kick-off 5.40pm), marking the first Guinness Women’s Six Nations match to be held in Galway.
Bemand’s squad will then travel to France for Round 3 on Saturday, 25 April (Kick-off 9.10pm local time / 8.10pm Irish time), before concluding the tournament with back-to-back home fixtures in Belfast and Dublin.
Wales visit Affidea Stadium in Round 4 on Saturday, 9 May (Kick-off 6.30pm), followed by Scotland at the Aviva Stadium on the final weekend, Sunday, 17 May (Kick-off 2.30pm), promising a special occasion for Irish Rugby.
Over 15,000 tickets have already been sold for the first-ever standalone women’s match at the Home of Irish Rugby.
Commenting at today’s Squad Announcement and Media Day, Bemand said:
“We’re really excited to announce our squad for the 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations. Following on from last year’s Rugby World Cup, we’ve got a strong core of experienced players who have been central to the journey we have been on as a squad, alongside some emerging talent that have come through the pathways and underage system.
“We had a positive three-day camp in January to lay the foundations for what’s ahead and the group – both players and staff – are excited to come back together now to narrow the focus on the challenges ahead.
“We have a number of exciting opportunities in front of us and there is a real sense of belief, purpose and determination within the group to continue the hard work and progress our game further over the weeks and months ahead.”
Peter Brady, Head of Risk Capital at Aon Ireland, added:
“We’re delighted to host the Ireland Women’s Squad Announcement and Media Day ahead of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations. As principal partner of the Women’s team since 2014, we are proud to support the squad both on and off the field.
“The team’s dedication, resilience and commitment to excellence mirrors our values and we wish Scott, Erin and the squad every success in the Championship and look forward to cheering them on every step of the way.”
Ireland Squad – 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations
Forwards (21):
Jemima Adams Verling (Galwegians RFC/Connacht) *
Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen RFC/Cooke RFC/Ulster) *
Beth Buttimer (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster) *
Eilís Cahill (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster) *
Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)
Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Brittany Hogan (Sale Sharks/Ulster)
Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury)
Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) (captain)
Aoibheann McGrath (Ballincollig RFC/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’Dowd (Gloucester-Hartpury/Leinster)
Ellena Perry (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ Rugby)
Ailish Quinn (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)
Aoife Wafer (Harlequins/Leinster)
Dorothy Wall (Exeter Chiefs/Munster)
Backs (15):
Alana McInerney (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster) *
Anna McGann (Railway Union RFC/Connacht)
Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)
Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)
Caitríona Finn (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster) *
Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)
Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)
Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
Nancy McGillivray (Exeter Chiefs/IQ Rugby)
Niamh Gallagher (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby) *
Robyn O’Connor (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) *
Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC/Leinster)
*denotes uncapped
