Scotland and Ireland step up their preparations for the 2010
Women's Rugby World Cup this week when they play an uncapped
international at Lasswade on Sunday 18 July.
Ireland today became the latest side to announce their full
squad and both sides will be keen for one last run out.
"This match has been set up as a training game of three
half hours to give ourselves and the Irish one last chance to try
out different combinations in a real game," said Scotland
women's head coach, Gary Parker.
"It's another opportunity to put our training into
practice against a team that doesn't know our calls or what
lines players will run. We're looking to see how all these
things work in a match environment, which will offer a real insight
to our progress."
At the World Cup, to be played in South East England from 20
August to 5 September, Scotland start in Pool C with France and
Canada, both losing semi finalists in 2006 in Edmonton, and Sweden,
who won Europe's qualifying event.
The Irish are in Pool B with 2006 runners-up England, the USA
and Asian women's powerhouse Kazakhstan.
In Pool A defending champions New Zealand play trans-Tasman
rivals and Sevens World Cup winners Australia, Wales and South
Africa.
"The girls are as committed as any players I've ever
worked with," added Parker. "They've worked immensely
hard, their dedication and attitude to extra sessions has seen
their fitness go up another notch since the Six Nations.
"I spent some time speaking to supporters after the
South Africa games who had never watched a women's
international before and they were really impressed by the standard
and commitment of good quality rugby players desperate to play for
their country."
The last three Women's Rugby World Cups - in Amsterdam
(1998), Barcelona (2002) and Edmonton (2006) - have all been won by
the Black Ferns of New Zealand.
Ireland announce World Cup squad
Ireland have named their final squad, containing a number of
seasoned internationals alongside some newer faces to have emerged
this season.
Fiona Coghlan, of recently crowned Women's All Ireland
League and Cup Champions UL Bohemians, will captain the side, as
she did during the Six Nations Championship where Ireland finished
third.
The squad has been boosted by the return of experienced back
Lynne Cantwell after a spell living in New Zealand.
Ireland Women's Squad:Forwards: Louise Austin (UL Bohemian/Munster),
Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemian/Munster), Orla Brennan
(Blackrock/Leinster), Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemian/Leinster) Captain,
Chris Fanning (Highfield/Munster), Lauren Day (Cooke/Ulster),
Caroline Mahon (UL Bohemian/Leinster), Claire Molloy
(Bristol/Connacht), Joy Neville (UL Bohemian/Munster), Yvonne Nolan
(Blackrock/Leinster), Kate O'Loughlin (Clonmel/Munster), Marie
Louise Reilly (Navan/Leinster), Sinead Ryan (Blackrock/Leinster),
Carol Staunton (Galwegians/Connacht).
Backs: Louise Beamish (UL Bohemian/Munster), Niamh
Briggs (Clonmel/Munster), Helen Brosnan (Highfield/Munster), Lynne
Cantwell (UL Bohemian), Amy Davis (Blackrock/Leinster), Eliza
Downey (Cooke/Ulster), Shannon Houston (Blackrock/Leinster),
Mairead Kelly (UL Bohemian/Munster), Joanne O'Sullivan
(Richmond/Exile), Tania Rosser (Blackrock/Leinster), Jackie Shiels
(Richmond/Leinster), Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Tickets for the tournament are available on
www.Ticketmaster.co.uk
