Dalton named in Ireland squad for Six Nations
Clara native Aoife Dalton has been included in the Ireland rugby squad for the upcoming Women’s Six Nations.
Dalton, who now plays for Old Belvedere RFC and Leinster, normally operates as a centre. She is a former Tullamore RFC player and is one of 16 backs selected in the 35-player squad.
Other players from the Midlands region in the squad are Béibhinn Parsons from Ballinasloe, Mullingar's Katie Heffernan and Aoibheann Reilly from Moore, close to Shannonbridge. Reilly and Parsons were part of the Ireland sevens team's historic success in the HSBC SVNS Series in Perth last month.
Leah Tarpey from Kilcavan in Laois, close to the Offaly border, is one of seven players included in the wider training panel. Now with Railway Union RFC and Leinster, Tarpey previously played for Tullamore RFC.
Edel McMahon and Sam Monaghan are now joint captains of the Ireland team, with the role of captain having been recently filled by Kilcormac native Nichola Fryday.
Ireland will open their Six Nations campaign away to France at Stade Marie-Marvingt in Le Mans on Saturday, March 23 (kick-off 3.15pm), before facing Italy at home in the RDS on Easter Sunday, March 31 (3pm).
After a weekend off, the campaign resumes with another home game in Cork's Musgrave Park against Wales on Saturday, April 13 (4.45pm). Scott Bemand's side will then be away to England in Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, April 20 (2.15pm).
Ireland will conclude their Championship at home in Kingspan Stadium, Belfast against Scotland on Saturday, April 27 (2.30pm). All of Ireland's games will be shown live on either RTÉ or Virgin Media.
Commenting on the squad announcement, Ireland head coach Scott Bemand said: "We are excited for this group of players who will represent Ireland in the upcoming Guinness Women’s Six Nations. The WXV3 and the Celtic Challenge preparation has been vital for our development and expanding our player pool. On the back of the success of the Women’s Sevens side, we are chasing potential through this group of players and we are all looking to perform in a high quality competition.
"With three home games in Ireland, we are looking forward to connecting with the fan base and playing in front of home crowds in Dublin, Cork and Belfast and would urge everyone to get behind the team and show their support for the Women’s team."
Ireland Squad - Women's Six Nations 2024
Forwards (19):
Claire Boles (Railway Union RFC/Ulster)
Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)*
Megan Collis (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
Eimear Corri (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Sarah Delaney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)
Shannon Ikahihifo (Ealing Trailfinders/IQ Rugby)*
Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury/Ulster)
Sadhbh McGrath (MU Barnhall/Cooke RFC/Ulster)
Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht), joint captain
Grace Moore (Saracens/IQ Rugby)
Sam Monaghan (Gloucester-Hartpury), joint captain
Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Andrea Stock (Ealing Trailfinders/IQ Rugby)*
Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)
Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)
Backs (16):
Natasja Behan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Enya Breen (Blackrock College/Munster)
Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)*
Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Méabh Deely (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)
Lauren Delany (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby)
Nicole Fowley (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
Clare Gorman (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)*
Katie Heffernan (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)*
Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)
Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)
Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
Chisom Ugwueru (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)*
Katie Whelan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)*
Training panellists (7):
India Daley (Blackrock College RFC/Ulster)*
Kate Flannery (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)*
Ivana Kiripati (Tuam-Oughterard/Connacht)*
Hannah O'Connor (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
Maeve Óg O’Leary (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)
Leah Tarpey (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
Kayla Waldron (Railway Union RFC/Connacht)*
*Denotes uncapped players.