IRFU Reveals Clovers and Wolfhounds Squads for Celtic Challenge

The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) has announced the Clovers and Wolfhounds squads for the upcoming cross-border Celtic Challenge competition. The tournament is set to commence with these two teams playing each other in successive fixtures on December 22 and December 28. This year’s competition will feature an expanded format, with each team scheduled to play 10 fixtures – five at home and five away. Among the players selected for the Clovers squad are Ulster duo Sadhbh McGrath and Sophie Barrett. The Wolfhounds panel, meanwhile, includes Aoife Wafer, who was named Rugby Writers of Ireland player of the year. The Clovers will conduct their training at the University of Limerick. The Wolfhounds, who were the champions of last season’s competition, will be based at the IRFU High Performance Centre in Dublin and Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. The IRFU has indicated that additional players will be added following the opening rounds of the SVNS Series, which began in Dubai last weekend. The full Celtic Challenge fixtures can be found here, external. Clovers squad Alana McInerney (UL Bohemian RFC), Aoibhe O’Flynn (UL Bohemian RFC), Aoife Corey (UL Bohemian RFC), Beth Buttimer (UL Bohemian RFC), Brianna Heylmann (UL Bohemian RFC), Caitriona Finn (UL Bohemian RFC), Chisom Ugwueru (UL Bohemian RFC), Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird (Old Belvedere RFC), Eabha Nic Dhonnacha (UL Bohemian RFC), Ella Burns (Tuam Oughterard), Emily Gavin (Railway Union RFC), Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC), Faith Oviawe (Railway Union RFC), Grace Brown Moran (Galwegians RFC), Grainne Burke (UL Bohemian RFC), Grainne Moran (Galwegians RFC), Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemian RFC), Jane Neill (Old Belvedere RFC), Kate Flannery (UL Bohemian RFC), Lucia Linn (UL Bohemian RFC), Meabh Deely (Blackrock College RFC), Muirne Wall (UL Bohemian RFC), Nicole Fowley (Galwegians RFC), Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC), Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC), Saoirse Crowe (Shannon RFC), Shirley Bailey (Ballincollig RFC), Siobhan McCarthy (Railway Union RFC) Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen RFC). Wolfhounds squad Alma Atagamen (Balbriggan RFC), Anna Doyle (Blackrock College RFC), Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC), Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College RFC), Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC), Caoimhe Molloy (Wicklow RFC), Cara Martin (Blackrock College RFC), Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC), Ciara Short (Wicklow RFC), Claire Boles (Railway Union RFC), Cliondhna Ni Choncobhair (Blackrock College RFC), Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC), Ella Roberts (Wicklow RFC), Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton (Old Belvedere RFC), Erin McConnell (Wicklow RFC), Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC), Jade Gaffney (Old Belvedere RFC), Katie Heffernan (Railway Union RFC), Katie Whelan (Old Belvedere RFC), Leah Tarpey (Railway Union RFC), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC), Maebh Clenaghan (Queen’s University RFC), Molly Boyne (Railway Union RFC), Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC), Poppy Garvey (Railway Union RFC), Sarah Delaney (Blackrock College RFC), Tricia Boyle (Railway Union RFC).