Featherstone Rovers full-back Copley in Ireland Women's squad for Italy clash

The championship, which will feature six nations, begins with the north group clash at the Pasian Di Pato Stadium, Udine on Saturday (kick off 7.30pm local time).

Ireland head coach John Whalley said: “This is a great opportunity for us to be able to test ourselves against high ranking opposition.

"We have seven uncapped players that come into the mix from the Wales fixture last October with five of those being from the domestic competition, which just shows that the sport in Ireland is building year on year.

"Without two notable absentees in our captain Pip Birchall and half-back Syphonia Pua, both missing with knee injuries, uncapped Orla McCallion brings a huge amount of experience from Betfred Women’s Super League, having won Grand Finals and Challenge Cups with Leeds Rhinos.”

Ireland squad: Storm Cobain (Bedford Tigers), Lisa Callan, Steph Carroll, Ali Coleman, Erin Coll, Roisin Crowe, Emma Curran, Clodagh Dunne, Ray Lawless, Alex McGuinness (Dublin City Exiles), Charlie Willet (Exeter Chiefs), Francessca Copley (Featherstone Rovers), Stacy Hanley, Ella Synott (Galway Tribeswomen), Mairead Quinn (Leigh Miners Rangers), Orla McCallion (Leeds Rhinos), Iona McCusker (London Broncos), Louise Burgess (Oxford Cavaliers), Bettie Lambert (York City Knights)