Fahan woman Nora Stapleton has been named on the Ireland Women’s squad for the 2017 Women’s Six Nations Championship.

Nora Stapleton

Stapleton is the only Donegal representative on the panel chosen by head coach Tom Tierney.

The experienced Old Belvedere and Leinster flyhalf was a member of the Ireland squad that won the Grand Slam in 2013 and picked up her second Six Nations medal in 2015.

Stapleton also wore the number 10 jersey when Ireland defeated the All Blacks at the 2014 World Cup.

A talented Gaelic footballer, Stapleton has also played for the Donegal senior ladies team. She now works as Women’s Rugby Development Executive with the IRFU and has played a key role in promoting the women’s game in Ireland.

Cappry woman Larissa Muldoon and Moville’s Katie Norris had been on the Irish panel in recent years, but are not involved in 2017, while Laura Feely from Ballybofey – who made her senior debut in a friendly against Wales last weekend – just missed out on a spot.

Ireland will play Scotland in their first match of the Championship on Friday week at Broadwood Stadium in Glasgow. They will then travel to L’Aquila to face Italy on Sunday, February 12.

Their first home game will be against France at Donnybrook on Sunday, February 26. They will then take on Wales at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday, March 11 – the morning after the Ireland men play Wales at the Principality Stadium.

The Ireland Women will finish their Six Nations run at home to England on Friday, March 17, in what will be a double header at Donnybrook on St. Patrick’s Day, as the Ireland Under-20s will play their English counterparts before the Women’s game.