Ireland women's head coach Scott Bemand has named a 36-player squad for the Six Nations with nine uncapped players included but Amee-Leigh Costigan ruled out due to pregnancy. Costigan, who captained Ireland in last year's Six Nations and scored two tries at the World Cup, announced she is expecting twins. Flanker Erin King will captain the team after being named captain in January.

Bemand's new-look squad includes 20-year-old Leinster back Robyn O'Connor, who starred for Ireland Under-20s and has scored four tries for the Wolfhounds in this season's Celtic Challenge. The uncapped cohort features four backs - Alana McInerney, Caitriona Finn, Niamh Gallagher, and O'Connor - alongside forwards Beth Buttimer, Jemima Adams Verling, Eilis Cahill, Aoibheann McGrath, and Sophie Barrett. The squad also sees the return of Dorothy Wall from Exeter Chiefs after missing the World Cup through injury.

Ireland's Six Nations campaign begins with a daunting away fixture against world champions England at Allianz Stadium on 11 April. Bemand's side then hosts Italy in Galway on 18 April before travelling to France seven days later. The tournament concludes with back-to-back home games against Wales and Scotland in Belfast and Dublin on 9 and 17 May, with the Scotland match marking Ireland's first stand-alone Women's Six Nations fixture at the Aviva Stadium.