Cill Dara player named in Ireland Women's rugby squad ahead of Six Nations campaign

Cill Dara centre Áine Donnelly has been included in the Irish Women's rugby squad for the upcoming Six Nations warm-up match against Wales on this coming Sunday. Donnelly, who was capped for the first time for her country in November, is a member of the Cill Dara club that is based near the Curragh and only took up playing the game in her twenties. Donnelly has taken to the game with such ease in the past number of years that she has been playing for Leinster in a position in which she wasn't accustomed to for her club. Usually an outhalf at club level, the 28-year-old has formed a strong partnership with Leinster outhalf Nora Stapleton for the province as she operates in the number 12 position. Donnelly will be hoping to force her way into the reckoning for a place in the side for Ireland's opening game of the Six Nations on 7 February, as they start the defence of their Six Nations title at home to Wales. Team coach Tom Tierney outlined that he would be using the game to try out different combinations that he will look to use in the upcoming Six Nations tournament. "We've had some good camps over the past few months, and with the England game in November and now this warm-up fixture against Wales, we're getting the opportunity to try out some different combinations and build our squad ahead of the Six Nations. We've got a nice mix of youth and experience within the team so it will be good to get a final run out before we start the tournament in Donnybrook,” he said.