The Ireland Women's Sevens squad to take part in the third round of the HSBC World Rugby Women's Sevens Series in Atlanta, Georgia has been confirmed.
The squad will travel to the United States early next week and have been drawn in Pool B of the Atlanta 7s with Canada, France and Russia. The Russian side are one of the teams that will compete with Ireland for the final spot at the Rio Olympics at the Olympic Repechage, which takes place in UCD in June.
The pool games will take place on Friday, April 8th, with the play-off games taking place the following day.
Three members of the squad were involved in the Six Nations with the Women's 15-a-side team. Sene Naoupu, who played in all five Six Nations games returns to the Sevens circuit, having played in Dubai, but didn't travel to Sao Paulo. Alison Miller, who scored a hat-trick in Ireland's Six Nations win over Scotland is also included, as is Kim Flood, who is set to add to her collection of Ireland caps, having won her first XV cap against Italy and will look to make her Sevens debut in Atlanta.
Louise Galvin, who featured in Dubai and Sao Paulo, suffered a fracture to her leg during training and will miss out on rounds three and four of the World Series.
The side will again be captained by Lucy Mulhall.
Speaking ahead of the Atlanta tournament, Director of Sevens and Women's Rugby, Anthony Eddy said;
"While things didn't go as we'd have liked in Sao Paulo, we'll learn from those games and will look for better displays over the coming weeks. The girls have been putting the work in at training, but now it is about putting that work into practice and getting some results from it.
The players who were involved in the Six Nations finished on a positive note, so hopefully we can carry that winning spirit to Atlanta”
After the Atlanta 7s, the Ireland Women's Sevens side will travel to Langford, British Columbia in Canada for the fourth round of the World Series, which takes place on the 16th and 17th April.
Ireland Women's squad for HSBC World Sevens Series, Atlanta, Georgia
Ashleigh Baxter – Belfast Harlequins / Ulster
Katie Fitzhenry – Blackrock College RFC / Leinster
Kim Flood - Railway Union / Leinster*
Stacey Flood – Railway Union / Leinster
Claire Keohane – UL Bohs / Munster
Alison Miller – Portlaoise / Connacht
Lucy Mulhall – Rathdrum / Leinster
Amee Leigh Murphy-Crowe – Railway Union / Munster
Sene Naoupu – Galwegians / Connacht
Audrey O'Flynn – Talent ID Programme
Hannah Tyrell – Old Belvedere / Leinster
Megan Williams – St.Mary's College RFC
*Denotes first World Series event
Match Schedule - Atlanta
Fri 8th April 2016
France 7s v Ireland 7s – 12.52 (Local Time) / 17.52 (Irish Time)
Canada 7s v Ireland 7s – 15.14 (Local Time) / 20.14 (Irish Time)
Russia 7s v Ireland 7s – 18.20 (Local Time) / 23.20 (Irish Time)
Saturday 9th April 2016
Cup / Bowl / Plate Play-Offs
Matches will be streamed via worldrugby.org
The squad will travel to the United States early next week and have been drawn in Pool B of the Atlanta 7s with Canada, France and Russia. The Russian side are one of the teams that will compete with Ireland for the final spot at the Rio Olympics at the Olympic Repechage, which takes place in UCD in June.
The pool games will take place on Friday, April 8th, with the play-off games taking place the following day.
Three members of the squad were involved in the Six Nations with the Women's 15-a-side team. Sene Naoupu, who played in all five Six Nations games returns to the Sevens circuit, having played in Dubai, but didn't travel to Sao Paulo. Alison Miller, who scored a hat-trick in Ireland's Six Nations win over Scotland is also included, as is Kim Flood, who is set to add to her collection of Ireland caps, having won her first XV cap against Italy and will look to make her Sevens debut in Atlanta.
Louise Galvin, who featured in Dubai and Sao Paulo, suffered a fracture to her leg during training and will miss out on rounds three and four of the World Series.
The side will again be captained by Lucy Mulhall.
Speaking ahead of the Atlanta tournament, Director of Sevens and Women's Rugby, Anthony Eddy said;
"While things didn't go as we'd have liked in Sao Paulo, we'll learn from those games and will look for better displays over the coming weeks. The girls have been putting the work in at training, but now it is about putting that work into practice and getting some results from it.
The players who were involved in the Six Nations finished on a positive note, so hopefully we can carry that winning spirit to Atlanta”
After the Atlanta 7s, the Ireland Women's Sevens side will travel to Langford, British Columbia in Canada for the fourth round of the World Series, which takes place on the 16th and 17th April.
Ireland Women's squad for HSBC World Sevens Series, Atlanta, Georgia
Ashleigh Baxter – Belfast Harlequins / Ulster
Katie Fitzhenry – Blackrock College RFC / Leinster
Kim Flood - Railway Union / Leinster*
Stacey Flood – Railway Union / Leinster
Claire Keohane – UL Bohs / Munster
Alison Miller – Portlaoise / Connacht
Lucy Mulhall – Rathdrum / Leinster
Amee Leigh Murphy-Crowe – Railway Union / Munster
Sene Naoupu – Galwegians / Connacht
Audrey O'Flynn – Talent ID Programme
Hannah Tyrell – Old Belvedere / Leinster
Megan Williams – St.Mary's College RFC
*Denotes first World Series event
Match Schedule - Atlanta
Fri 8th April 2016
France 7s v Ireland 7s – 12.52 (Local Time) / 17.52 (Irish Time)
Canada 7s v Ireland 7s – 15.14 (Local Time) / 20.14 (Irish Time)
Russia 7s v Ireland 7s – 18.20 (Local Time) / 23.20 (Irish Time)
Saturday 9th April 2016
Cup / Bowl / Plate Play-Offs
Matches will be streamed via worldrugby.org