Moloney omission purely a 'rugby decision', says McWilliams

The door is open for Cliodhna Moloney and other Ireland internationals who missed out on selection for the Six Nations, insists Greg McWilliams.

Wasps hooker Moloney was the highest-profile player left out of McWilliams first squad, which was announced earlier this month.

She joined centre Sene Naoupu and back row Anna Caplice as senior players who missed out for the campaign, which starts against Wales on Saturday.

In addition, experienced trio Ciara Griffin, Claire Molloy and Lindsay Peat retired at the end of the year.

Moloney's comment calling remarks made by former women's director Anthony Eddy "slurry" added fuel to the fire of a row that was brewing between current and former players and the Irish Rugby Football Union.

However, the recent release of an independent review into the failure of the side to qualify for the World Cup and an upcoming review into the wider structures of the women’s game has signalled a new chapter in Irish rugby.

Last month new IRFU CEO Kevin Potts said Moloney was not paying the price for speaking out in public and the decision was purely based on "form".

Moloney is one of just a handful of players who ply their trade in the English league and was part of the team that helped Wasps to a big win over defending champions Harlequins two weeks ago.

Capped 31 times, 28-year-old Moloney had been one of Ireland most dependable forwards in what was a difficult year, playing in all of the games.

"This is a rugby decision, nobody steered me any other way," said McWilliams when questioned about the selection.

"I’m selecting who I believe are the right people at the moment to represent Ireland and I’m really proud of the squad that we have.

"There’s a number of people that have missed out

"It’s important to say