Boyne And Gaffney To Lead New-Look Leinster Women’s Squad

Leinster head coach Ben Martin has announced a 30-strong squad for the Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship, which begins for the defending champions with the visit of Ulster to Energia Park on Sunday week (August 10).

With many of last season’s successful group unavailable for selection due to Rugby World Cup commitments with Ireland, Martin worked with an initial training panel of 65 players last month, with a view to casting his and his fellow coaches’ eyes over a wider range of players.

That squad has now been reduced to 30 players, with experienced back rower Molly Boyne appointed as team captain, and Ireland Under-20 international Jade Gaffney (pictured below) taking on the vice-captain duties for the four-round series.

Hannah O’Connor, who has retired at provincial level after captaining Leinster to back-to-back Interprovincial crowns, is a notable absentee from the squad.

However, there is still plenty of experience in the mix with the likes of Nikki Caughey, Aoife Moore, and Clodagh Dunne included. On the younger cohort, two members of this year’s Ireland Under-18 squad, Aoibhe Kelly and Heidi Lyons, have made the cut.

Jane Neill, a debutant for Leinster in last season’s Interpros, is set to be back in blue soon after captaining the Ireland Under-20s to two wins at the Six Nations Women’s Summer Series.

Gaffney, Alma Atagamen, Aoife Corcoran, Rosie Searle, Emma Brogan, Clara Dunne, Caoimhe McCormack, Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton, and Hannah Scanlan were also part of the Niamh Briggs-coached squad for last month’s tournament in Wales.

Railway Union’s promising out-half Scanlan is one of four development players selected by Martin, alongside Ashbourne’s Naoise Smyth, and MU Barnhall duo Katelynn Doran and Anna Mai O’Brien (pictured below).

Notably, Blackrock College’s Ella Durkan and Maggie Boylan have linked up with the Interpro title holders having previously played with Ulster and Munster respectively. Their club-mate, former Kerry Gaelic footballer Andrea Murphy, is chasing a first cap too.

A number of National Talent Squad players will remain with the Leinster squad as a development opportunity over the coming weeks, including Rebecca Brennan, Ava Usanova, Teni Onigbode, Sophie Cullen, and Alex Connor.

“There were a number of variables at play this summer like the (Ireland) Under-20s, Sevens, and of course the Women’s Rugby World Cup, so there has been a lot of coming and going over the last few weeks,” Martin told the Leinster Rugby website.

“There will be movement over the weeks ahead with players of national interest also being assessed as they return from their break periods.

“We also have a number of players returning from injury, like Emma Tilly, Leah Tarpey, and Natasja Behan, that are training with us but this first game is just too soon for them.

“All in all, we are excited by the squad announced today and we’d like to thank all the players that have been part of the wider group over the last few weeks and months.

“It is clear for all to see the talent that is out there and the work that is going on in our schools and clubs, and with the player pathway programmes and the BearingPoint Sarah Robinson Cup.

“It’s all eyes on Ulster now for Sunday week. We can’t wait to tear into our first match week and run out in front of our supporters in Energia Park.”

Martin’s young side have back-to-back home matches against Ulster and Munster at their Donnybrook base, before visiting Dexcom Stadium to play Connacht in the third round. The four-round series concludes with the finals day on Saturday, August 30 at Energia Park.

Leinster Season Ticket Holders have been sent a link to claim their free tickets, while tickets for the games against Ulster and Munster, and the finals day, are also on public sale here from Ticketmaster. Broadcast partners TG4 will have all the action live on their YouTube channel.

LEINSTER SENIOR WOMEN’S SQUAD – 2025/26 SEASON:

Backs (13) –

Andrea Murphy (Blackrock College RFC)
Aoibhe Kelly (Tullamore RFC)
Caoimhe McCormack (Railway Union RFC)
Cara Martin (Blackrock College RFC)
Clara Dunne (Wicklow RFC)
Ella Durkan (Blackrock College RFC)
Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton (Old Belvedere RFC)
Emma Brogan (MU Barnhall RFC)
Erin McConnell (Wicklow RFC)
Heidi Lyons (Naas RFC)
Jade Gaffney (Old Belvedere RFC) (vice-capt)
Maggie Boylan (Blackrock College RFC)
Nikki Caughey (Railway Union RFC)

Forwards (17) –

Alma Atagamen (Balbriggan RFC)
Aoife Corcoran (MU Barnhall RFC)
Aoife Moore (Blackrock College RFC)
Ciara Short (Wicklow RFC)
Clíodhna Ní Chonchobhair (Blackrock College RFC)
Clodagh Dunne (Old Belvedere RFC)
Emma Kelly (Old Belvedere RFC)
Hannah Wilson (Old Belvedere RFC)
Jane Neill (Old Belvedere RFC)
Kara Mulcahy (Old Belvedere RFC)
Kate Jordan (Blackrock College RFC)
Katie Layde (Old Belvedere RFC)
Kelly Burke (MU Barnhall RFC)
Lisa Callan (Old Belvedere RFC)
Méabh Keegan (Railway Union RFC)
Molly Boyne (Railway Union RFC) (capt)
Rosie Searle (Navan RFC)

Development Players:

Anna Mai O’Brien (MU Barnhall RFC)
Hannah Scanlan (Railway Union RFC)
Katelynn Doran (MU Barnhall RFC)
Naoise Smyth (Ashbourne RFC)

2025/26 VODAFONE WOMEN’S INTERPROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES:

ROUND 1:

Sunday, August 10 –

Leinster v Ulster, Energia Park, 2.30pm
Munster v Connacht, Virgin Media Park, 4.15pm

ROUND 2:

Saturday, August 16 –

Leinster v Munster, Energia Park, 2.30pm
Connacht v Ulster, Dexcom Stadium, 4.15pm

ROUND 3:

Saturday, August 23 –

Connacht v Leinster, Dexcom Stadium, 2.30pm
Ulster v Munster, Kingspan Stadium, 4.15pm

FINALS DAY:

Saturday, August 30 –

Games will be played at Energia Park