Ireland Women’s 7s squad named for Kitakyushu 7s

The Ireland Women’s 7s squad has been confirmed for the fourth round of the World Rugby Women’s Sevens World Series in Kitakyushu this weekend. The squad of 13 will be captained by Lucy Mulhall and includes Claire Boles and Brittany Hogan, both graduates of Ulster Rugby Development programmes. Tullamore's Megan Burns is named for her first World Series trip. Burns turned 19 last week and progressed through the Ireland 7s pathways, and won her first cap in Kazan last summer. Ireland finished in fourth place at the last World Series event in Sydney back in February and will be looking to keep momentum going at the Mikuni Stadium this weekend. They are drawn in Pool C with England, Fiji and USA. On confirmation of the squad, Ireland Sevens Coach Stan McDowell said: “It’s the third time to compete at this tournament in Kitakyushu and it’s a fantastic setting and I know the players are always impressed with the pitch in the Mikuni Stadium. We have a nice mix of players in the squad; the younger players learning and developing more and more as the season continues, while the more experienced players in the squad are helping them along, while also improving their own game. There has been a bit of a gap between the last World Series event in Sydney and this weekend, so I know the players are looking forward to getting back out there and playing.” Ireland Women’s 7s – Kitakyushu 7s, Mikuni Stadium, Kitakyushu, 20th – 21st April 2019 Claire Boles (Railway Union/Ulster) Megan Burns (Tullamore/Leinster) Aoife Doyle (Shannon/Railway Union/Munster) Louise Galvin (UL Bohemian/Munster) Katie Heffernan (Mullingar/Railway Union/Leinster) Eve Higgins (Railway Union/Leinster) Brittany Hogan (Railway Union/Ulster) Emily Lane (Mallow/Munster) Anna McGann (UCD/Old Belvedere/Leinster) Lucy Mulhall (Rathdrum) Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe (Railway Union/Munster) Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird (Old Belvedere/Munster) Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster) Ireland Women’s 7s – Kitakyushu 7s Fixtures – Pool C Saturday 20th April 2019 Ireland v Fiji – 2.30am (Irish time) / 10.30am (local) Ireland v England – 5.14am (Irish time) / 1.14pm (local) Ireland v USA – 8.20am (Irish time) / 4.20pm (local) Sunday 21st April 2019 Finals Day