RUGBY:A 25-WOMAN Ireland squad for the Six Nations was announced yesterday by coach Philip Doyle. Leinster's Fiona Coghlan will captain the side for a second season.

“We recognise the potential of the squad while respecting the challenges ahead, the first of which is to start the Six Nations campaign against Italy away with a good performance,” said Doyle. “Being the first game of the championship means we have little knowledge of the opposition so our concentration is to be accurate as possible throughout the game with and without the ball.”

Ireland open their campaign in Rovigo (near Venice) on Sunday week with Friday night games being hosted by Ashbourne RFC for the visit of France (February 11th, 7.30pm) and England (March 18th, 7.30pm).

IRELAND WOMEN’S (Six Nations Squad) G Bourke (Munster), N Briggs (Munster), L Cantwell (Exile), F Coghlan (Leinster, capt), A Davis (Leinster), L Day (Ulster), A Egan (Leinster)*, S Fleming (Munster)*, L Guest (Munster), A Hutchings (Munster)*, N Kavanagh (Munster)*, M Kelly (Munster), S Kennedy (Ulster)*, E McManamly (Leinsterk), C Molloy (Connacht), L Muldoon (Exile)*, J Neville (Munster), G Nolan (Leinster)*, D O’Brien (Leinster)*, H O’Brien (Munster)*, G Rea (Munster)*, M-L Reilly (Leinster), J Shiels (Leinster), N Stapleton (Leinster), C Staunton (Connacht). *Denotes uncapped Player.