Ireland Names Nine Uncapped Players for Women's Six Nations as Costigan Misses Out Due to Pregnancy

Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has unveiled a bold 36-player squad for the Women's Six Nations championship, introducing nine uncapped players while losing key winger Amee-Leigh Costigan, who recently announced she is expecting twins.

The selection represents a significant changing of the guard for Irish women's rugby, as Bemand balances experience from last year's World Cup quarter-finalists with emerging talent from the country's development pathways and underage system.

Costigan's absence removes one of Ireland's most influential players from the squad. The 30-year-old captained Ireland during last year's Six Nations defeats to France and England, while scoring two crucial tries at the World Cup, establishing herself as a cornerstone of the national team setup.

Flanker Erin King will lead the squad as captain, a role she assumed in January after missing the World Cup with a knee injury. King's return to fitness provides Ireland with experienced leadership at a time when the team integrates significant new talent across multiple positions.

The most notable newcomer is Leinster back-three player Robyn O'Connor, whose inclusion highlights Ireland's commitment to youth development. The 20-year-old starred for Ireland Under-20s in last year's Six Nations women's summer series and has demonstrated exceptional form in this season's Celtic Challenge, scoring four tries for the Wolfhounds.

O'Connor joins three other uncapped backs in the squad: Alana McInerney, Caitriona Finn, and Niamh Gallagher. This influx of new attacking talent suggests Bemand's confidence in Ireland's production line while addressing the gap left by Costigan's absence.

The forward pack features five uncapped players, including Beth Buttimer, Jemima Adams Verling, Eilis Cahill, Aoibheann McGrath, and Sophie Barrett. This extensive inclusion of new forwards indicates both the depth available to Ireland and potential concerns about durability among experienced players.

"Following on from last year's Rugby World Cup, we've got a strong core of experienced players who have been central to the journey we have been on as a squad, alongside some emerging talent that have come through the pathways and underage system," Bemand explained following his contract extension announcement on Wednesday.

The coach emphasized the importance of building on last year's World Cup experience while developing next-generation talent. "We had a positive three-day camp in January to lay the foundations for what's ahead and the group - both players and staff - are excited to come back together now to narrow the focus on the challenges ahead."

Ireland faces additional challenges beyond Costigan's absence, with former co-captain Edel McMahon ruled out after undergoing knee surgery. McMahon's experience and leadership had been crucial to Ireland's development under Bemand, making her unavailability another significant blow to squad stability.

However, Ireland welcomes back several key players from injury layoffs. Dorothy Wall returns after missing the World Cup through injury, while her Exeter Chiefs teammate provides additional forward depth. Influential forward Aoife Wafer has also been included after an injury-hit 2025 that saw her miss most of the World Cup campaign.

Wafer's journey back to the squad has been particularly challenging. After missing most of Ireland's World Cup campaign with a knee problem, she returned for the France quarter-final only to suffer a broken collarbone and ruptured medial collateral ligament that delayed her Harlequins debut until December.

Ireland's Six Nations campaign begins with the ultimate test: an away fixture against world champions England on April 11th at Allianz Stadium. England has won seven straight Six Nations titles and hasn't lost a game since 2018, making them overwhelming favorites for another championship.

The challenging schedule continues with Ireland hosting Italy in Galway on April 18th before traveling to France seven days later. Ireland concludes their Six Nations with back-to-back home games against Wales and Scotland in Belfast and Dublin on May 9th and 17th respectively.

The Scotland match represents a historic milestone, as Ireland's first stand-alone Women's Six Nations fixture at the Aviva Stadium. Previous appearances at the Lansdowne Road venue occurred in 2014 as part of a double-header alongside the men's team.

Bemand has successfully guided Ireland to successive third-place Six Nations finishes and last year's World Cup quarter-finals, establishing a foundation that this squad must build upon. The integration of nine uncapped players provides both opportunity and risk as Ireland attempts to compete with the championship's established powers.

The squad announcement reflects broader trends in women's rugby, where international teams increasingly prioritize development pathways over short-term solutions. Ireland's commitment to youth suggests confidence in their production systems while acknowledging the natural evolution required to maintain competitiveness at international level.