Two training squads announced
Within 24 hours both Bryan Easson and Scott Bemand have named their training squads for the coming 2025 RWC.
The good news includes the names of much missed players returning to duty from injury. In particular, Emma Wassell for Scotland and Sam Monaghan and Beibhinn Parsons for Ireland. For Ireland Sarah Delaney, Eimear Corri and Shannon Ikahihifo were also missing through injury from last year’s 6N and the recent WXV.
Fortunes are reversed for other players: neither Dorothy Wall nor Erin King will be able to take part in England. For Scotland one injured player unlikely to recover in time is Meryl Smith – yet another ACL. Christine Belisle stepped back from the game some time ago. Her position, tight-head, is one where a decent replacement needed to be found in a hurry. Along came Elliann Clarke.
This is only the beginning of a long haul. Training sessions begin at the start of next month. Both squads will be fined down to 32 before battle commences. That means huge disappointment for a small number in each group. Coaches reserve the right to add other players to the mix, though only further injuires make that likely.
We can read very little into the size of the two squads (38/37). The larger the number, the closer to real-match situations the practices become. On the other hand, the larger the number of disappointed players when the big announcement is made. Neither coach has thought it necessary to involve two complete sides.
Ireland
This is their chance to right the wrongs of their 2017 RWC results at home, where they under- performed badly. Their final position of eighth led to their non-qualification for the 2021 (2022) version in New Zealand.
Hopes are far higher these days. With only a grain of luck, they could do very well at the RWC. The one blot on their escutcheon was the failure to see off the Scots in Edinburgh. It was a close- run thing (19-26), but a jolt to expectations. There is a juicy back-line in the making here.
Stopping-off points for are two tests, versus Scotland in Cork on 2 August and versus Canada in Belfast the following week.
Here is Bemand’s squad of 37:
Forwards: *Alma Atagamen, Aoife Wafer, Brittany Hogan, Christy Haney, Cliodhna Moloney, Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird, Edel McMahon, Eimear Corri, Fiona Tuite, Grace Moore, *Ivana Kiripati, Jane Clohessy, Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Niamh O’Dowd, Ruth Campbell, Sadhbh McGrath, Sam Monaghan, Sarah Delaney, Shannon Ikahihifo, Siobhan McCarthy (21)
Backs: Amee-Leigh Costigan, Anna McGann, Aoibheann Reilly, Aoife Corey, Aoife Dalton, Beibhinn Parsons, Dannah O’Brien, Emily Lane, Enya Breen, Eve Higgins, Katie Corrigan, Molly Scuffil-McCabe, Nicole Fowley, Stacey Flood, Vicky Elmes Kinlan, plus Maeve Deeley (‘training panellist’ (16)
*uncapped
Scotland
Easson has spoken of the severe competition for places in his squad. Proof comes with the names of players missing out, including Louise McMillan, Mairi McDonald, Shona Campbell, Liz Musgrove and Fi McIntosh.
Lisa Cockburn, Eva Donaldson, Emma Wassell, Molly Wright, Beth Blacklock and Coreen Grant are the six players already capped, who return to the colours.
I had wondered whether only a single warm-up match, (that Ireland fixture at Cork) was wise, but one or more may yet be added.
This is the Scotland squad of 38:
Forwards: Leah Bartlett, Gemma Bell, Becky Boyd, Sarah Bonar, Elliann Clarke, Hollie Cunningham, Lisa Cockburn, Eva Donaldson, Evie Gallagher, Adelle Ferrie, Jade Konkel, Rachel Malcolm, Elis Martin, Rachel McLachlan, *Aila Ronald, Molly Poolman, Lana Skeldon, Alex Stewart, Emma Wassell, Molly Wright, Anne Young (21)
Backs: Leia Brebner-Holden, Beth Blacklock, Rhea Clarke, Coreen Grant, Rhona Lloyd, Caity Mattinson, Francesca McGhie, Helen Nelson, Rachel Philipps, *Hannah Ramsay, Chloe Rollie, Lucia Scott, Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, *Hannah Walker, Evie Wills, *Meg Varley (17)
*uncapped
It’s encouraging to see the names of six uncapped players across the two squads. Which of them will find fame (if not fortune) with her performances on the biggest stage?
