Womens International Rugby.

An Ireland’s Presidents selection has been chosen for the sides first outing this season where they travel to San Sebastion in Spain to play a friendly with their Basque counterparts.

The selection, which plays on January 5th, includes a spread of experience and youth with the emphasis very much on bringing new talent to the fore ahead of this seasons 6-Nations.

Eight players will represent Ireland for the first time at senior level. Joy Neville, Amanda Greensmith, Nuala Ni Chadhain, Lynda Kelly, Joanne O’Sullivan, Fiona Coughlan, Aisling O’Brien and Serina Stirling are all poised to make the step-up.

The game is the first in a brace of friendlies that Ireland will play before the 6-nations campaign gets underway and they travel to Chester the following week to play a British Police selection.

Irish President’s XV: S J Belton (UL-Bohemians), A Greensmith (Shannon), L Cantwell (UL-Bohemians), N Ni Chadhain (Galwegians), P Kelly (UL-Bohemians), L Kelly (Clanwilliam), R Boyd (Cooke), J O’Sullivan (Nottingham), L Beamish (UL-Bohemians), S Fleming (Cooke), M Dolo (Old Belvedere), F Coghlan (UL-Bohemians), J Lonergan (Shannon), L Coulter (Cooke), G McAllister (Cooke), A McAllister (Shannon), R Foley (Shannon), A O’Brien (Clonakilty), R Reid (Cooke), F Steed (Shannon), S Stirling (Cooke), J Neville (Shannon).

Also selected at the weekend was a thirty-two player squad that make up the 2002 National Women’s Training Squad for the season.

Irish Training Squad 2002: L Beamish (UL Bohemians), R Boyd (Cooke), S J Belton (UL-Bohemains), R Brown (Shannon), L Cantwell (UL-Bohemians), E Coen (Highfield), F Coghlan (UL-Bohemians), L Coulter (Cooke), G Davitt (Boyne), M Dolo (Old Belvedere), S Fleming (Cooke), R Foley (Shannon), A Greensmith (Shannon), L Kelly (Clanwilliam), P Kelly (UL-Bohemians), J Leacy (Blackrock), J Lonergan (Shannon), G McAllister (Cooke), A McAllister (Shannon), N Milne (Worcester), B Montgomery (Ripon), N Ni Chadhain (Galwegians), J Neville (Shannon), A O’Brien (Clonakilty), C O’Leary (UL Bohemians), E O’Sullivan (Clonakilty), J O’Sullivan (Nottingham), R Reid (Cooke), F Steed (Shannon), S Stirling(Cooke), R Tucker ( Shannon), E Wessell (Richmond).