Scott Bemand has named his squad for the 2026 tournament
Ireland Women’s Six Nations squad has been named by head coach Scott Bemand. The boss, who signed a new deal in March, has put out a 36-player team but there are some key absentees.
Amee-Leigh Costigan is not involved as she has announced she is pregnant with twins, while former co-captain Edel McMahon is out with a knee injury.
Related: Women’s Six Nations fixtures
There is some bright news for the team though as Aoife Wafer is named. She had a n injury-hit year in 2025 but has had a run of games for Harlequins.
Erin King will also captain the side and comes back to international action after an injury ruled her out of the 2025 Rugby World Cup.
Bemand told BBC NI: “We had a positive three-day camp in January to lay the foundations for what’s ahead and the group – both players and staff – are excited to come back together now to narrow the focus on the challenges ahead.”
Ireland Women’s Six Nations Squad 2026
Forwards
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)
Backs
Alana McInerney (UL Bohemian/Munster)
Anna McGann (Railway Union/Connacht)
Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College/Connacht)
Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Beibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College/Connacht)
Caitriona Finn (UL Bohemian/Munster)
Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
Emily Lane (Blackrock College/Munster)
Enya Breen (Blackrock College/Munster)
Eve Higgins (Railway Union/Leinster)
Nancy McGillivray (Exeter Chiefs)
Niamh Gallagher (Trailfinders Women)
Robyn O’Connor (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Stacey Flood (Railway Union/Leinster)
Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow/Leinster)
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