Director of Women's and Sevens RugbyÂ Anthony EddyÂ has confirmed the 12 players to compete at the third stage of the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series in Las Vegas on Friday 3rdÂ and Saturday 4thÂ March.

The team finished in 8th place at the Sydney 7s, their best placing since 2013 and will be looking to build on that next weekend.

Ireland will face USA in the opening game of Day 1, before taking on Fiji. They will finish the day against European rivals Spain.

Ireland have met all three teams in Pool B this season. They suffered a defeat to USA on Day 2 in Sydney, having previously defeated them in Dubai.

Ireland also recorded their first ever win over Fiji at the Sydney 7s, having drawn with the islanders in Dubai.

In their most recent meeting with Spain, Ireland came back from 12-0 down to beat the Spanish 14-12 in the Plate Final in Dubai.

Returning to the team are Audrey O'Flynn who was unavailable for both Dubai and Sydney through injury, and Alison Miller and Sene Naoupu, who were both involved with Irish sides at the Dubai 7s, but were involved with the Ireland Women's 15s side during the Sydney 7s.

Claire Keohane also returns to the side, having been involved with the Women's 7s Development side in Dubai.

Ashleigh Baxter, Katie Fitzhenry, Susan Vaughan and Megan Williams complete the forwards in the squad.

They join Captain Lucy Mulhall, who was one of the top-ranked performers at the Sydney 7s, Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe, who is currently the 3rd top try scorer on this year's series and Hannah Tyrrell and Stacey Flood who were both try scorers in Sydney.

Speaking on selection of the side, Eddy said;
"The team is progressing well and having finished 9th in Dubai and 8th in Sydney, there is a strong desire to build on these achievements.

There has been a quicker turn around than usual, with Sydney taking place just three weeks ago, so we're conscious that they players involved have recovered and are fit and ready to go for Las Vegas.

We've been drawn with the hosts USA, Fiji and Spain, so while it will be a pool with teams we are familiar with, it will be a big challenge and everyone will need to be on top form for each game.”

Ireland are currently ranked in 9th spot in the overall rankings, with 10 points. England sit ahead of them in 8th place on 17 points, while France lie in 7th place on 18 points.

Ireland Women's 7s Squad for Las Vegas 7s

Ashleigh Baxter (Cooke / Ulster)
Claire Keohane (UL Bohemians / Munster)
Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock College RFC / Leinster)
Stacey Flood (Railway Union / Leinster)
Alison Miller (Old Belvedere / Connacht)
Lucy Mulhall (Rathdrum RFC / Leinster) (captain)
Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe (Railway Union / Munster)
Sene Naoupu (Aylesford Bulls)
Audrey O'Flynn (Ireland Sevens Programme)
Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Susan Vaughan (Railway Union / Leinster)
Megan Williams (Ireland Sevens Programme)

HSBC World Rugby Women's Sevens Series – Las Vegas 7s – Ireland Fixtures

Pool B – Day 1 – 3rd March 2017
USA v Ireland – 8.17 (local time) / 16.17 (Irish time)
Fiji v Ireland – 11.24 (local time) / 19.24 (Irish time)
Ireland v Spain – 14.09 (local time) / 22.09 (Irish time)

Day 2 – 4th March 2017
TBC

To keep up to date with the Ireland Women's 7s in Las Vegas, follow Irish Rugby on Twitter @IrishRugby, on Instagram @IrishRugby and on Facebook Facebook.com/IrishRugby

For more information on the HSBC World Rugby Women's Sevens Series, visit here: http://www.worldrugby.org/womens-sevens-series.

Baxter named in Ireland Women's 7s squad for Las Vegas 7s

Related Articles

Club partners