Mayo players named in Connacht Rugby squad

Connacht Rugby Women’s Head Coach Craig Hansberry has named a 40-player squad for the upcoming Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Series.

Geesala native Clara Barrett and Ballina’s Ailish Quinn, who both previously played for Ballina RFC, are among the Irish internationals named in the squad, as well as Beibhinn Parsons, Anna McGann, Aoibheann Reilly and Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald for the upcoming WXV Global Series.

In addition, former Ballina RFC duo Emily Foley and Gráinne Moran as well as current Ballina RFC rising star Evie Kennedy, Aoife Heaney (Claremorris Colts RFC) and Ava Ryder (formerly of Westport RFC).

The squad kick-off their campaign away to Ulster on Saturday, August 8, before a trip to Dublin to face Leinster the following weekend. Their sole home game in the group stage comes against Munster on Saturday, August 22, at Dexcom Stadium (kick-off 4:15), but they’ll be back in action at the same venue the following weekend when the ground hosts the playoff finals for the first time.

Commenting on his squad selection, head coach Craig Hansberry said: “We’ve had a great few weeks training with our extended squad, and with the rest of the coaching team we had a tough job whittling it down to the 40 players who will take us through to the interpros.

“It’s a massive boost to be able to call on our international players. Some of them have gone on to play on the biggest stage in women’s rugby, but despite representing Connacht at underage level, they haven’t yet had the opportunity to represent their home province in a senior interprovincial championship. So it’s great news for them as well as us, and not to mention the young girls from across Connacht who will get to watch them in action when they hopefully come out to support us for all four games.”