Eight uncapped players in Women's Six Nations squad

Ireland head coach Greg McWilliams has named eight uncapped players in his squad for the TikTok Women's Six Nations, but will have to make do without his Sevens stars for the opening rounds of the championship at the very least.

The Ireland coach has confirmed a 32-player group for the championship, which begins away to Wales at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday, 25 March (Kick-off 2.15pm, live on RTÉ2).

The Ireland Sevens squad are currently in Canada preparing for this week's Vancouver leg of the World Series, while the Hong Kong leg of the series, which takes place from 31 March to 2 April, has ruled out the likes of Beibhinn Parsons, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Eve Higgins and several other dual players from featuring in the early rounds of the Six Nations.

The IRFU have not confirmed whether those players will be available for XV's selection in the later rounds of the championship.

Six of the eight uncapped players are forwards, with Leinster's Niamh O'Dowd and Molly Boyne, Ulster's Sadhbh McGrath and Fiona Tuite, as well as IQ Rugby duo Kathryn Buggy (Gloucester-Hartpury) and Clara Neilson (Exeter Chiefs) all named in the group.

Ella Roberts was one of the stars of the Celtic Challenge campaign and off the back of her performances for the Combined Provinces, is one of two uncapped backs in the squad alongside Harlequins scrum-half Emma Swords.

Nichola Fryday will once again captain the group, while Mary Healy, Megan Collis, Andrea Stock, Emma Hooban, India Daley, Claire Bennett, Katie Whelan, Leah Tarpey, Kayla Waldron, Ella Durkan, Clare Gorman and Aoife Corey will also be involved with the squad at this week's two-day mini camp at the IRFU high performance centre in Abbotstown.

Forwards (18):

Niamh O'Dowd (Old Belvedere