Ireland women's head coach Tom Tierney included five uncapped players in his squad for the upcoming Six Nations campaign.
Props Ilse Van Staden [Cooke and Ulster] and Ciara O'Connor [Galwegians and Connacht] aim to win their first Ireland caps during the course of this year's championship.
Scrum-half Ailsa Hughes [Railway Union and Leinster], out-half Jemma Jackson [Cooke and Ulster] and wing Eimear Considine [UL Bohemians and Munster] are all also included in the squad. Considine has been capped for the Ireland Women's 7s.
Tierney today also confirmed that Niamh Briggs will retain her role as captain.
Ireland Head Coach Tom Tierney speaks to his players earlier this month. Image: ©INPHO/Paul Walsh
"It's set to be a busy and exciting year for this team, and it all gets underway next Friday against Scotland," he said in a statement on Thursday afternoon.
"While we had some tough games in November, the experience the players gained in those matches will stand to them as we head into the Six Nations Championship.
"There is a good blend of youth and experience in the squad, and having had weekly camps since Christmas, we've been working hard getting our structures in place and making sure everyone knows their job.
"The fact that all of our games will be broadcast this season adds an additional element of excitement to the campaign so everyone is looking forward to it all getting underway."
Ireland face Scotland in their first game of the Championship on Friday, February 4 at the Broadwood Stadium in Glasgow.
They will then make the trip to L'Aquila to face Italy on February 12.
Ireland host France in Donnybrook for their first home game on February 26, before facing Wales in the Cardiff Arms Park, on March 11.
Ireland finish their Championship at home against England on St Patrick's Day.
Ireland Women's 2017 Six Nations Squad
Forwards (*denotes uncapped player):
Elaine Anthony (Highfield / Munster)
Anna Caplice (UL Bohemians / Munster)
Ciara Cooney (Railway Union / Leinster)
Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary's College / Leinster)
Orla Fitzsimons (St. Mary's College / Leinster)
Nichola Fryday (Tullamore / Connacht)
Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians / Munster)
Leah Lyons (Highfield / Munster)
Claire Molloy (Bristol / Connacht)
Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union / Leinster)
Heather O'Brien (Highfield / Munster)
Ciara O'Connor (Galwegians / Connacht)*
Ruth O'Reilly (Galwegians / Connacht)
Lindsay Peat (Railway Union / Leinster)
Marie-Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Ilse Van Staden (Cooke / Ulster)*
Backs (*denotes uncapped player):
Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians / Munster) Captain
Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians / Munster)*
Mairead Coyne (Galwegians / Connacht)
Aine Donnelly (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Mary Healy (Galwegians / Connacht)
Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union / Leinster)*
Jemma Jackson (Cooke / Ulster)*
Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians / Munster)
Claire McLaughlin (Cooke / Ulster)
Alison Miller (Old Belvedere / Connacht)
Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Sene Naoupu (Ayslesford Bulls)
Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
Fixtures In Full
Friday 3 February 2017
Scotland Women v Ireland Women, 6.35pm, Broadwood Stadium, Glasgow
Sunday 12 February 2017
Italy Women v Ireland Women, 2pm (1pm GMT), Stadio Tommaso Fattori, L'Aquila
Sunday 26 February 2017
Ireland Women v France Women, 12.45pm, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin
Saturday 11 March 2017
Wales Women v Ireland Women, 11.30pm, BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
Friday 17 March 2017
Ireland Women v England Women, 8pm, Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin
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