Six Ulster Girls make the Irish Training Squad

The Ulster representatives are:
Belfast Harlequins - Ashleigh Baxter, Nikki Caughey
City Of Derry - Stacey-Lea Kennedy, Glenda Mellon
Cooke - Lauren Day, Grace Davitt

The girls now go forward to the final selection process on the weekend of 7^th January, where it is hoped they will be joined by fellow Ulster player Larissa Muldoon should she recover fully from injury.

It has been an amazing journey for youngsters Baxter and Caughey who have progressed through the Ulster Branch U19 Regional Development Squad, and have only just completed their first successful season with the Ulster Senior Squad.

Ulster Branch Women’s Development Officer Joy Sparkes commented on the news of their selection: “I’m thrilled for all the girls who made the squad, in particular Ashleigh and Nikki who have progressed through our underage pathway. It’s so rewarding to see their talent recognised and I’ve always believed they will make it to the top. We have had an excellent Inter-Pro series this season and it is great to see the girls getting credit for their hard efforts. Women’s rugby in Ulster is showing very promising times ahead and I’d like to wish the girls all the very best in their final training camp in January.”

It’s the second season of Irish involvement for the exceptionally hard working Kennedy who will be pushing hard for more game time this season and Day has done well to fend off stiff competition. It will be Glenda Mellon’s first taste of International training - she had an exceptional Inter Pro series for Ulster producing the form of her career to deservedly make it onto the squad. Davitt’s return to the Ireland set up is a testament to her form during the recent Inter-Provincials, where she guided a young and inexperienced Ulster backline with aplomb.

Ulster Rugby would like to congratulate these girls on their selection and wish them well in the final training camp in January.

IRELAND WOMEN'S Squad (2012 RBS 6 Nations Championship):
Christine Arthurs (Tralee - Connacht)
Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins - Ulster)
Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians - Munster)
Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians - Munster)
Helen Brosnan (Highfield - Munster)
Lynne Cantwell (Exile)
Nikki Caughey (Belfast Harlequins - Ulster)
Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians - Leinster)
Amy Davis (Blackrock - Leinster)
Grace Davitt (Cooke - Ulster)
Lauren Day (Cooke - Ulster)
Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere - Leinster)
Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary's - Leinster)
Siobhan Fleming (Tralee - Munster)
Laura Guest (Highfield - Munster)
Shannon Houston (Blackrock - Leinster)
Ashling Hutchings (UL Bohemians - Munster)
Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians - Munster)
Stacey-Lea Kennedy (City of Derry - Ulster)
Glenda Mellon (City of Derry - Ulster)
Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Highfield - Connacht)
Claire Molloy (Bristol - Exile)
Larissa Muldoon (Exile/UWIC - Ulster)
Joy Neville (UL Bohemians - Munster)
Heather O'Brien (Highfield - Munster)
Laura O'Mahony (Tralee - Munster)
Ruth O'Reilly (Galwegians - Connacht)
Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere - Leinster)
Tania Rosser (Blackrock - Leinster)
Sophie Spence (Exile)*
Carol Staunton (Galwegians - Connacht)

IRELAND WOMEN'S 2012 FIXTURES -
(All times are local to where the games are being played)
Friday, February 3: Ireland v Wales, Ashbourne RFC, 7.30pm
Saturday, February 11: France v Ireland, Stade de Hameau, Pau, 6.30pm
Friday, February 24: Ireland v Italy, Ashbourne RFC, 7.30pm
Friday, March 9: Ireland v Scotland, Ashbourne RFC, 7.30pm
Saturday, March 17: England v Ireland, Esher RFC, London, 2.30pm