The seeded sides in their individual pools are:

• New Zealand, defending champions.
• England, hosts and 2006 runners-up.
• France, 2006 bronze medallists.

The qualification process saw 16 teams complete for those six places outside of those automatically qualifed.

Direct Qualifiers
New Zealand, England, France, Canada, USA and South Africa all qualified directly,

Six Nations Qualifiers
Wales and Ireland

Regional Qualifiers:
Sweden and Scotland – European qualifiers
Australia – the Oceania qualifier.
Kazakhstan from Asia.

The pools are:

Pool A: New Zealand, Wales, Australia, South Africa
Pool B: England, USA, Ireland, Kazakhstan
Pool C: France, Canada, Scotland, Sweden

This years squad includes eight uncapped players, who John O’Sullivan will be hoping can impress on the international stage.

• Kate O’Loughlin,
• Niamh Briggs,
• Helen Brosnan,
• Amy Davis,
• Linda O’Hara,
• Gillian Bourke,
• Jackie Shiels
• Louise Austin

O’Sullivan had this to say:

“The final squad selection this year has been difficult, which is a testament, to the quality of the players which have come through this year,”

“What we have looked for and ended up with are players who will challenge for a place in the starting 15 and any one of them, if called upon, are more than capable of representing Ireland. At international rugby strength and depth is what you need, and that is what we have.”

In a year where O’Sullivan is without several key players such as Eimear O’Sullivan and Rachel Boyd, through work commitments or injury, he is lucky to have such depth in the squad.

Ireland’s 2007 6 Nations Squad

• Forwards (13)Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians), Marie Barrett (Highfield), Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians) Laura Guest (UL Bohemians), Jess Limbert (Cooke), Yvonne Nolan (Blackrock), Germaine Healy (Blackrock), Caroline Mahon (UL Bohemians), Kate O’Loughlin (Clonmel) Louise Austin (Blackrock), Orla Brennan (Blackrock), Joy Neville (UL Bohemians), Sinead Ryan (Blackrock)
• Backs (13)
  Sarah jane Belton (UL Bohemians (Captain) ), Louise Beamish (UL Bohemians), Tania Rosser (Blackrock), Niamh Briggs (Clonmel), Jo O’Sullivan (Richmond), Patrique Kelly (UL Bohemians), Shannon Houston (Blackrock), Grace Davitt (Blackrock), Helen Brosnan (Highfield), Lynne Cantwell (UL Bohemians), Amy Davis (Cooke) Linda O’Hara (Blackrock), Jackie Shiels (Richmond)