Connor and Brogan prepare for Six Nations

Navan duo in Irish squad

Craig Williamson

Alex Connor and Emma Brogan, who both play for Navan, have been included in the Irish u-18 squad for the Women's Six Nations festival to be held in North Wales this Easter.

For Brogan this is her second time named on this squad after being involved last year’s u-18s Women’s Six Nations Festival which took place in England while this is a debut for Alex Connor.

Both players were starters for the Leinster u-18 Womens side who were runner-up in the recent Interprovincial Championships with Connor captaining the side in the semi-finals and final.

Both players are also accomplished Gaelic footballers turning out for Simonstown GFC.

They also play for Loreto St Michael's, Navan and were part of last year's All-Ireland winning LGFA Post-Primary Schools Senior A Championship. Brogan was named "Player of the Match" in the final.

The festival takes place between March 29 and April 6, and the squad will assemble for three weekend training camps at the IRFU’s High Performance Centre on the Sport Ireland Campus in west Dublin. The training camps will take place on March 2-3, 9-10, and 16-17.

Gill, the current Women’s Provincial Talent Coach for Leinster, will be assisted by Sana Govender, who has previously coached Munster Women’s and age-grade teams.

There are 11 players returning to the squad who featured at last year’s u-18 Women’s Six Nations Festival in England – Ailish Quinn, Alma Atagamen, Jemima Adams Verling, Abby Healy, Caitriona Finn, Emily Foley, Emma Brogan, Grainne Moran, Lyndsay Clarke, Niamh Murphy, and Sarah Purcell.

A host of clubs across the country are represented in the squad – Creggs, Wexford Wanderers, Balbriggan, Navan, Wicklow, Tuam/Oughterard, Coolmine, Ennis, Enniscorthy, Naas, Gorey, Wicklow, Killarney, UL Bohemian, Ballina-Killaloe, Enniskillen, Ballymena, Mullingar, Carrick-on-Suir, Dungarvan, Larne, Cill Dara, and Ballinasloe.

IRELAND UNDER-18 WOMEN’S Squad (2024 U-18 Women’s Six Nations Festival, Colwyn Bay, Wales, March 29-April 6):

Jemima Adams Verling (Creggs RFC/Connacht)

Alma Atagamen (Balbriggan RFC/Leinster)

Bronagh Boggan (Wexford Wanderers RFC/Leinster)

Emma Brogan (Navan RFC/Leinster)

Rebecca Brennan (Wicklow RFC/Leinster)

Ella Burns (Tuam/Oughterard RFC/Connacht)

Alex Connor (Navan RFC/Leinster)

Aoife Corcoran (Coolmine RFC/Leinster)

Lyndsay Clarke (Ennis RFC/Munster)

Carla Cloney (Enniscorthy RFC/Leinster)

Sophie Cullen (Naas RFC/Leinster)

Usha Daly O’Toole (Gorey RFC/Leinster)

Clara Dunne (Wicklow RFC/Leinster)

Emma Dunican (Killarney RFC/Munster)

Caitriona Finn (UL Bohemian RFC/Ballina-Killaloe RFC/Munster)

Emily Foley (Ballina RFC/Connacht)

Abby Healy (Wicklow RFC/Leinster)

Mia Hennelly (Ballina-Killaloe RFC/Munster)

Siofra Hession (Creggs RFC/Connacht)

Leah Irwin (Enniskillen RFC/Ulster)

Sophie McAllister (Ballymena RFC/Ulster)

Caoimhe McCormack (Mullingar RFC/Leinster)

Erin McConalogue (Inishowen RFC/Ulster)

Aoibheann McGrath (Dungarvan RFC/Munster)

Cara McLean (Larne RFC/Ulster)

Niamh Murphy (Cill Dara RFC/Leinster)

Grainne Moran (Ballina RFC/Connacht)

Kate Noons (Cill Dara RFC/Leinster)

Ava O’Malley (Killarney RFC/Munster)

Roisin Power (Ballinasloe RFC/Connacht)

Sarah Purcell (Creggs RFC/Connacht)

Sadhbh Wells (Enniskillen RFC/Ulster)

Fia Whelan (Killarney RFC/Munster)

Emma Jane Wilson (Cill Dara RFC/Leinster)

Ailish Quinn (Ballina RFC/Connacht)

IRELAND UNDER-18 WOMEN’S MANAGEMENT TEAM:

Matt Gill – Head Coach

Sana Govender – Assistant Coach

Becky Irvine – Team Manager

Lorna Barry – Athletic Development Coach

Naomi Hamilton – Team Physio