Nine uncapped players for Ireland but Costigan out

Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has named nine uncapped players in his Women’s Six Nations squad, but key winger Amee Leigh Costigan is out.

Costigan, who captained Ireland in last year’s Six Nations defeats by France and England and scored two tries at last year’s World Cup, recently announced she is pregnant with twins.

The 36-player squad will be led by flanker Erin King, who was named captain in January after missing the World Cup with a knee injury.

Bemand’s uncapped cohort includes Leinster back-three player Robyn O’Connor, who starred for the Ireland under-20s in last year’s Six Nations women’s summer series and has scored four tries for the Wolfhounds in this season’s Celtic Challenge.

O’Connor, 20, is one of four uncapped backs alongside Alana McInerney, Caitriona Finn and Niamh Gallagher, with forwards Beth Buttimer, Jemima Adams Verling, Eilis Cahill, Aoibheann McGrath and Sophie Barrett also hoping to make their senior debut.

“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,” said Bemand, who signed a contract extension on Wednesday.

Bemand, who has led Ireland to successive third-place Six Nations finishes and last year’s World Cup quarter-finals, is also without former co-captain Edel McMahon.

The experienced back row has been ruled out of the tournament after undergoing knee surgery, but her Exeter Chiefs team-mate Dorothy Wall returns after missing the World Cup through injury.

Influential forward Aoife Wafer is also included after an injury-hit 2025.

Wafer missed most of Ireland’s World Cup campaign with a knee problem before returning in the France quarter-final.

However, a broken collarbone and ruptured medial collateral ligament sustained in that game delayed her Harlequins debut until December having joined from Leinster after the World Cup.

Ireland open their campaign away to world champions England, who have won seven straight Six Nations titles and last lost a game in 2018, at Allianz Stadium on 11 April.

Bemand’s side host Italy in Galway on 18 April before travelling to France seven days later.

Ireland conclude the Six Nations with back-to-back home games against Wales and Scotland in Belfast and Dublin on 9 and 17 May.

Forwards (21): Jemima Adams Verling (Galwegians/Connacht), Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen/Cooke/Ulster), Beth Buttimer (UL Bohemian/Munster), Eilis Cahill (UL Bohemian/Munster), Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemian/Munster), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Brittany Hogan (Sale Sharks/Ulster), Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), Erin King (Old Belvedere/Leinster, captain), Aoibheann McGrath (Ballincollig/Munster), Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke/Ulster), Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs), Sam Monaghan (Gloucester-Hartpury), Grace Moore (Trailfinders Women), Niamh O’Dowd (Gloucester-Hartpury/Leinster), Ellena Perry (Gloucester-Hartpury), Ailish Quinn (Galwegians/Connacht), Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere/Ulster), Aoife Wafer (Harlequins/Leinster), Dorothy Wall (Exeter Chiefs/Munster)