Head Coach Niamh Briggs has named a 34 woman squad for the Vodafone Women's Interprovincial which kicks off on January 7th when Munster open their title defence against Ulster at Musgrave Park. Briggs has included Energia AIL winners Enya Breen, Dorothy Wall and Maeve Óg O'Leary from Blackrock College alongside Aoife Doyle and Stephanie Carroll from beaten finalists Railway Union. The Ireland capped Laura Sheehan, who is playing with Exeter, is also included. [caption id="attachment_109579" align="alignnone" width="1248"] Enya Breen makes a break which led to Aoife Doyle's try during the opening Test against Japan in Shizuoka ©INPHO/Akito Iwamoto[/caption] 18 players have been retained from last year’s Championship winning squad while six of the current squad have been involved with the national 15s side this year. Briggs has extensive experience coaching at the highest level in her current roles as head coach of UL Bohemian RFC and assistant coach of the Ireland Women's team. The Waterford native held the role of assistant coach of the Munster Senior Women squad last season. Matt Brown, who successfully led Munster to the Women’s Interprovincial Championship last season, will act as assistant coach. Brown was recently appointed as a Pathway Development Coach with Munster Rugby and has previously coached at Galwegians, Clanwilliam, Railway Union and Old Wesley along with the Munster U18 Women side. Fiona Hayes and Mike Storey complete Briggs’ coaching staff.

Munster Squad  - Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship

Backs Abbie Salter-Townshend – UL Bohemian RFC Alana McInerney – UL Bohemian RFC Aoife Corey – UL Bohemian RFC Aoife Doyle – Railway Union RFC Brianna Heylmann – UL Bohemian RFC Ellen Boylan – Blackrock College RFC Emily O’Regan – Tralee RFC Enya Breen – Blackrock RFC Heather Kennedy – Ballincollig RFC Kate Flannery – UL Bohemian RFC Laura Sheehan – Exeter Chiefs Laura O’Mahony – UL Bohemian RFC Muirne Wall – UL Bohemian RFC Nicole Cronin – UL Bohemian RFC Rachel Allen – UL Bohemian RFC Stephanie Carroll – Railway Union RFC Stephanie Nunan – UL Bohemian RFC Forwards Chloe Pearse – UL Bohemian RFC Ciara Farrell – UL Bohemian RFC Claire Bennett – UL Bohemian RFC Clodagh O’Halloran – UL Bohemian RFC Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird – Old Belvedere RFC Dorothy Wall – Blackrock RFC Eilís Cahill – UL Bohemian RFC Fiona Reidy – UL Bohemian RFC Geena Behan – UL Bohemian RFC Gillian Coombes – Ballincollig RFC Jane Clohessy – UL Bohemian RFC Kate Sheehan – UL Bohemian RFC Maeve Óg O’Leary – Blackrock College RFC Rebecca Reilly – UL Bohemian RFC Róisín Ormond – Ballincollig RFC Sarah Garrett – UL Bohemian RFC Sarah Quin – UL Bohemian RFC

Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Fixtures

Saturday January 7th 2023 Round One: Leinster v Connacht, Energia Park, 14:30 (TG4); Munster v Ulster Musgrave Park, 16:45 (TG4) – Buy Tickets Here Saturday January 14th 2023 Round Two: Munster v Leinster, Musgrave Park, 12:15 (TG4); – Buy Tickets Here Ulster v Connacht, Kingspan Stadium, 14:30 (BBC NI). Saturday January 21st 2023 Round Three: Connacht v Munster, The Sportsground, 13:00 (TG4) Ulster v Leinster, Queen’s University Upper Malone, 17:30 (BBC NI)