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Ireland national rugby sevens team

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This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Ireland women's national rugby sevens team.

Ireland
UnionIrish Rugby Football Union
Coach(es)James Topping
Captain(s)Harry McNulty
Most capsHarry McNulty (181)[note 1]
Top scorerJordan Conroy (615)[note 2]
Most triesJordan Conroy (123)[note 3]
Team kit
Change kit
First international
 New Zealand 18–22  Ireland
(7 April 1973)
Largest win
 Hungary 0–80  Ireland
(1 June 1996)
Largest defeat
 Fiji 56–0  Ireland
(23 November 2000)
World Cup Sevens
Appearances7 (First in 1993)
Best result3rd place (1993, 2022)

The Ireland national rugby sevens team competes in several international rugby sevens competitions. The team is governed by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU).

Ireland competes as a 'core team' on the World Rugby Sevens Series, a competition every year from December to June that includes ten tournaments staged around the globe. The 2019–20 season is Ireland's first season as a core team. At the 2019 Hong Kong Sevens Ireland won the World Series Qualifier tournament for the 2019–20 World Rugby Sevens Series, earning "core team" status for the first time. Prior to this Ireland had competed in individual tournaments within World Rugby Sevens Series, though not as a core team. Ireland became the first non-core side to medal at a World Series tournament at the 2018 London Sevens, where they finished in third place. Since their inclusion as a core side, they have earned 2nd-place finishes twice, at the 2022 France Sevens and the 2022 Dubai Sevens.[1][2]

Ireland also competes in major quadrennial rugby sevens tournaments and their qualifying tournaments. Ireland has competed in most Rugby World Cup Sevens since the 1993 inaugural event, with their best results including finishing third in 1993 and 2022. The team also competes during qualifying for the Summer Olympics, but failed to qualify for the inaugural rugby sevens competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics. On 20 June 2021 Ireland qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics.[3][4]

Following the announcement in 2009 that rugby sevens would be an Olympic sport beginning in 2016,[5] the Irish Rugby Football Union created a men's rugby sevens programme in 2014. In 2015, the IRFU announced its goal to field a national sevens team that would qualify for the Summer Olympics and the World Rugby Sevens Series.[6] Ireland has since begun offering professional contracts to its squad of sevens players. In 2022 Ireland equalled their best ever World Cup Sevens performance, winning the bronze medal.

Ireland also participates in the Rugby Europe Sevens Series.

History

[edit]

Ireland competed at the 1973 International Seven-A-Side Tournament, the first rugby sevens tournament for national teams. They defeated New Zealand, Australia and Scotland in the groups phase, before losing to England in the finals.[7]

Olympic era (2009–present)

[edit]

Ireland increased its emphasis in rugby sevens when the International Olympic Committee voted in 2009 to restore rugby to the events program in 2016. In March 2011, the IRFU announced its support for Shamrock Warriors RFC. The club's aim was to establish a pool of experienced Sevens players for the IRFU to develop into a future international Sevens squad. The pool would experience playing in the top-level competition, should the IRFU become involved in professional international sevens or in the Olympic Sevens.[8][9]

Despite the 2009 announcement of rugby sevens as an Olympic sport, the IRFU was initially slow to recognize the opportunity. In September 2013, the IRFU said it was unlikely to send a sevens team to the 2016 Summer Olympics.[10] The IRFU did not introduce a men's rugby sevens national team program until October 2014.[11] The IRFU announced in December 2014 the hiring of Anthony Eddy as the Director of Irish rugby sevens, both the men's and women's teams.[12] In December 2014 the IRFU issued a notice to all Irish athletes to see what if could become an Elite Sevens rugby player. The IRFU hoped to see the best rugby club talent available as well as attracting athletes with transferable skills from other team sports such as athletics, basketball, and Gaelic Games. The IRFU held four talent identification days across Ireland in January 2015.[13]

The IRFU announced in May 2015 its brand new 27-man squad for the 2015 season, selected out of a pool of more than 300 applicants, a squad that later became known as "The Originals".[14] The new team started at the bottom, beginning the 2015 season in Europe's Division C, with an eye towards gaining promotion to higher levels of competition. The highlight of Ireland's 2015 and 2016 seasons was the attempt to qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics. At the 2015 Europe Olympic Repechage Tournament, Ireland finished with 4–1–1 record, and despite a 10–24 semifinal loss to Russia, their third-place finish gained the last European slot for the 2016 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament. At the 2016 Final Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Ireland finished pool play with a 3–0 record including a 27–21 win over Samoa.[15] However, a quarterfinal loss to Spain (7–12) eliminated them from the 2016 Summer Olympics.[15]

Entering the 2017 season, with the Irish men's rugby sevens program in place for just over two years, the IRFU still had not handed out any full-time professional contracts to any sevens players.[16] For the 2017 summer season, Ireland played in the European Grand Prix Sevens, which included four tournaments during summer 2017. Ireland began the Grand Prix by winning the first tournament, the 2017 Moscow Sevens, defeating Spain 12–0 in the final.[17]

For the 2017–18 season, Ireland selected a core squad of 14 players that would prioritize Sevens play for the autumn 2017 tournaments, although they are not full-time Sevens players, and they retain their club status.[18] Ireland finished ninth at the 2017 Silicon Valley Sevens with a 3–2 record; their record against World Series core teams was a respectable 2–2, with two wins over Canada.[19]

As of December 2018, the IRFU was due to announce shortly their first-ever professional contracts for sevens players.[20]

World Series core team

[edit]

Ireland qualified as a core team for the 2019–2020 World Rugby Sevens Series by winning the 2019 Hong Kong qualifier. In May 2019, despite the squad qualifying for the World Rugby Sevens Series, the IRFU announced that players would remain on an €18,000 basic annual salary with bonuses of €500 for participating in each of the 10 World Series tournaments – the equivalent of a development contract.[21]

In March 2022, Anthony Eddy stepped down both as IRFU director of women's rugby and 7's rugby.[22] Ireland secured their best ever overall finish in the World Rugby Sevens Series with a 5th-place finish in the 2021–22 series.[23] Later that year, Ireland equalled its best World Cup Sevens performance, winning the bronze medal for the second time (the first in 1993). Terry Kennedy capped off the program's successful season, by winning the World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year, mirroring the achievement of his XV's countrymen and counterpart, Josh van der Flier.[24]

Ireland finished sixth at the 2024 Summer Olympics, losing in the quarterfinals to eventual finalist Fiji. In the months following the Olympics, a number of team veterans retired, including caps leader Harry McNulty.[25]

Players

[edit]

Current squad

[edit]

The following players have been selected to represent Ireland during the 2024/25 SVNS series beginning in November 2024.

Note: Caps reflect the total number of SVNS events competed in as of the 2024 Dubai Sevens.

Republic of Ireland Ireland 7's
No Player Matches Points scored Club
1 Zac McConnell 11 10 -
3 Rory Woods 8 0 New Zealand Northland Rugby
4 Mark Roche 180 411 Lansdowne
7 Jordan Conroy 178 620 Buccaneers RFC
9 Hugo Lennox 136 215 Skerries RFC
12 Niall Comerford 132 77 UCD RFC
13 Bryan Mollen 129 104 UCD RFC
14 Ed Kelly 60 72 Dublin University RFC
21 Josh Costello 11 20 Shannon RFC
22 James Dillon 5 5 Dublin University RFC
33 Joshua Kenny 5 10 -
50 Tadgh Brophy 9 8 Naas RFC
51 Nicholas Greene 9 0 Garryowen RFC

World Rugby Sevens Series

[edit]
Main article: World Rugby Sevens Series

Ireland had a sparse participation in the World Rugby Sevens Series until 2019. Between 1999 and 2019 Ireland appeared only sporadically, and not as one of the core teams that participated in every tournament. Ireland played in very few tournaments on the World Series, such as the occasional trip to the Hong Kong Sevens. Ireland has had some limited success in the World Series tournaments in which it has played.

Ireland competed in two of the ten tournaments of the inaugural 1999–2000 World Sevens Series: at the 2000 Hong Kong Sevens, Ireland finished 17th to win the Bowl with a 4–2 record;[26] at the 2000 Paris Sevens, Ireland finished tied for 11th with a 3–2 record. The following season, in the 2000–01 World Sevens Series, Ireland played in the 2000 Dubai Sevens where they finished 9th, winning the Bowl with a 4–2 record, including a 19–17 semifinal win over Wales.[27]

Ireland has, however, since assembling a permanent sevens program in 2014, publicly stated in 2014 and again in 2015 that its goal is to qualify as one of the 15 core teams in the World Series.[28] At the 2018 Hong Kong Sevens qualifying tournament for the 2018–19 World Series, Ireland posted a 3–0 record in pool play, winning all three matches by comfortable 20+ point margins, to advance to the knockout rounds. Ireland defeated Zimbabwe 38–5 in the quarterfinals, but lost to Japan 7–12 in the semifinal and failed to qualify for the 2018-19 World Series.[29]

Ireland competed as an invitational team at the 2018 London Sevens and the 2018 Paris Sevens. At the 2018 London Sevens Ireland defeated the favoured United States and England teams en route to finishing third overall.[30] At the penultimate World Rugby Sevens Series event in London in 2018, the Irish team "stole the show", finishing in third place in their first World Series tournament since 2004, Ireland thus becoming the first invitational side to reach the semi-finals and then the podium of a World Rugby Sevens Series event. Invited to the following event in Paris, Ireland finished seventh, their second top half finish as an invitational side, and the first invitational side to do so.

The following year, Ireland again played in the 2019 Hong Kong Sevens qualifier. Ireland won the tournament, defeating Hong Kong 28–7 in the final, with Jordan Conroy's 10 tries across six matches earning him Player of the Tournament.[31] Ireland again appeared at the 2019 London Sevens and 2019 Paris Sevens, reaching the quarterfinals of the London Sevens.

Ireland joined the World Rugby Sevens Series as a "core status" team for the first time for the 2019–20 season. In their first tournament, the 2019 Dubai Sevens, Jordan Conroy led all scores with seven tries and was named to the tournament Dream Team. The ten-tournament season was cut to six tournaments due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Ireland reached the quarter-final round in three of the six tournaments during the season, finishing in 10th place. Wing Jordan Conroy led all try scorers in the competition with 30 tries, with centre Terry Kennedy finishing fifth with 17 tries. In May 2022, Ireland achieved their highest ever position at a World Series event, reaching the final of the Toulouse Sevens before falling 17–29 to Fiji.[1] Ireland reached their second World Series final at the 2022 Dubai Sevens losing to South Africa in the final, 5–21.[2]

Season by season

[edit]
Ireland at the World Series
Season Rank Pts Events Best event GP W D L Win % PF PA Diff Tries Most tries Most points
1999–00 — 0 2 / 10 11th (Paris) 11 6 0 5 55% 242 205 +37 38 J. Topping (10) J. Topping (52)
2000–01 17th 2 1 / 9 9th (Dubai) 6 4 0 2 67% 132 154 –22 21 Matt Mostyn (6) Gavin Duffy (37)
2001–02 — 0 2 / 11 10th (Cardiff) 11 3 0 8 27% 176 231 –55 28 James Ferris (6) Paddy Wallace (49)
2002/03 – 2003/04 Did not compete
2004–05 — 0 2 / 7 14th (Dubai) 11 2 1 8 18% 192 267 –75 32 T. O'Leary (7) I. Humphreys (52)
2005/06 – 2016/17 Did not compete
2017–18 15th 27 2 / 10 3rd (London) 11 5 1 5 45% 186 228 –42 30 J. Conroy (11) J. Conroy (55)
2018–19 16th 19 2 / 10 6th (London) 12 6 0 6 50% 241 278 –37 39 M. McGrath (6) B. Dardis (47)
2019–20 10th 49 6 / 6 6th (twice) 28 11 2 15 39% 558 610 –52 86 J. Conroy (30) J. Conroy (150)
2021 6th 20 2 / 2 4th (Van­couver) 12 5 2 5 42% 200 173 +27 32 C. Phillips (6) C. Phillips (30)
2021–22* 5th 92 9 / 9 2nd (Toulouse) 52 25 0 27 48% 951 857 +94 153 T. Kennedy (50) T. Kennedy (250)
2022–23 8th 114 11 / 11 2nd (Dubai) 62 31 2 29 50% 1052 901 +151 146 J. Conroy (32) J. Conroy (160)
2023–24 (League) 2nd 104 7 / 8 2nd (Singapore) 40 23 0 17 58% 712 581 +131 113 Terry Kennedy (31) Terry Kennedy (155)
2023–24 (Grand Final) 5th — 1 / 1 5th 5 3 0 2 60% 95 90 +5 15 J. Conroy
Zac Ward (3) 		Hugo Lennox (23)
Total — 427 47 2nd 261 124 8 129 48% 4737 4575 +162 733 J. Conroy (123) J. Conroy (615)
 *To take account of the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic, a unique ranking points system was applied to the 2022 Series which saw only the best seven out of the nine tournament results count towards the Series ranking for each team.

Updated as of 5 June 2024[32]
Results listed above do not include matches played as part of the Hong Kong World Series qualifier competition.

Ireland at the Hong Kong Sevens WS qualifier
Season Position GP W D L Win % Pts scored Tries Most tries Most points Qualified
2018 3rd 5 4 0 1 80% 148 24 T. Kennedy (5) Mark Roche (28) No
2019 1st 6 5 1 0 83% 179 27 Jordan Conroy (10) Jordan Conroy (50) Yes
Total — 11 9 1 1 82% 327 51 Terry Kennedy (11) Terry Kennedy (55) —

Summer Olympics

[edit]
Olympic Games record
Year Round Pos Pld W D L PF PA Diff Most tries Most Points
Brazil 2016 Did not qualify
Japan 2020 9–12th place playoff 10th 5 2 0 3 74 81 –7 G. Mullin (3) G. Mullin (15)
France 2024 5–8th place playoff 6th 6 3 0 3 101 74 +27 C. Mullins (5) C. Mullins (25)
Total 0 Titles 2/3 11 5 0 6 175 155 +20 C. Mullins (5) C. Mullins (25)
Olympics qualifying
Olympics Qualifying
competition(s) 		Pos GP W D L PF PA Diff Most tries Qualification
2016 Portugal 2015 European[33] 3rd 6 4 1 1 115 84 +31 Wootton / McNulty /
Byrne / Fitzpatrick (3)		 Qualified for 2016 playoff
Monaco 2016 intercontinental[34][35] 7th 5 3 0 2 108 81 +27 M. McGrath / T. Daly (3) Did not qualify for 2016 Olympics
2020 France 2019 European 3rd 6 4 1 1 169 62 +107 J. Conroy (9) Qualified for 2020 playoff
Monaco 2020 intercontinental 1st 6 6 0 0 182 41 +141 J. Conroy (11) Qualified for 2020 Olympics
2024 Poland 2023 European Games 1st 6 6 0 0 199 38 +161 J. Conroy (6) Qualified for 2024 Olympics
Total — — 29 23 2 4 773 306 +467 — —

2016 Olympics qualifying

[edit]
See also: 2015 Rugby Europe Men's Sevens Championships and Rugby sevens at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Ireland began Olympic qualifying by playing in Division C within Europe. In the 6–7 June 2015 Division C tournament, Ireland went 6–0 in the competition to win Division C, winning all six matches by a comfortable margin. This win qualified them to participate in Division B. In the 20–21 June, 2015 Division B tournament, Ireland again went 6–0 to win Division B, again winning all six matches by a comfortable margin. This win qualified them for the European repechage tournament.[36]

In the 18–19 July 2015 Rugby Europe sevens repechage in Lisbon, Ireland topped their group with wins over Italy and Georgia and a draw against Russia.[37] In the knockout competition, Ireland defeated Lithuania 17–0 in the quarterfinals. Ireland then lost in the semifinals to Russia 10–24, but in the third-place match defeated Georgia 15–7 to finish third overall, and secure the third and final European qualifying place for the Final 2016 Men's Olympic Qualification Tournament.[38]

The Irish team drew Samoa, Tonga and Zimbabwe in the final Olympic repechage tournament in Monaco.[39] Ireland finished first in their group with three wins, including a close 27–21 over World Series team Samoa. Ireland lost in the quarterfinals to Spain, 7–12, and did not qualify for the Olympics.[11]

2020 Olympics

[edit]

Ireland finished third at the 2019 Rugby Europe qualifying tournament. With this result, they did not automatically qualify for the 2020 Olympics, but gained a spot in the final inter-continental playoff tournament. They then won the playoff tournament to secure the last qualifying spot in the 2020 Summer Olympics.[3][4]

Ireland opened their 2020 Olympic campaign with losses to both South Africa and the United States.[40] Despite a five-point victory over Kenya and a third-place finish in their pool, Ireland failed to achieve a quarterfinal spot due to an unfavourable points difference.[40] They subsequently defeated South Korea 31–0, before losing to Kenya, to finish in 10th place.[40]

2024 Olympics

[edit]

Ireland defeated Great Britain 26–12 in the final of the 2023 European Games, thereby qualifying for the 2024 Summer Olympics.[41]

Previous Olympic Squads

[edit]

Rugby World Cup Sevens

[edit]
Main article: Rugby World Cup Sevens
Rugby World Cup Sevens
Year Round Position Pld W D L PF PA Diff Most tries Most points
Scotland 1993 Semifinalist 3rd 9 6 0 3 185 109 +76 Richard Wallace (7) Eric Elwood (60)
Hong Kong 1997 Bowl Semifinalist 19th 6 1 0 5 94 158 –64 David Humphreys (5) David Humphreys (31)
Argentina 2001 Bowl Semifinalist 19th 7 2 1 4 108 176 –68 James Topping (4) Topping / Ferris (20)
Hong Kong 2005 Plate Quarterfinalist 13th 6 2 0 4 100 159 –59 Maxwell / Humphreys (6) Ian Humphreys (44)
United Arab Emirates 2009 Bowl Finalist 18th 6 3 0 3 94 110 –16 Tonetti / Carney (3) Tom Gleeson (19)
Russia 2013 Did not enter
United States 2018 Challenge Winner 9th 5 4 0 1 99 97 +2 Dardis / Conroy (4) Billy Dardis (32)
South Africa 2022 Semifinalist 3rd 5 4 0 1 94 62 +32 McNulty / Conroy (3) Mark Roche (18)
Total 0 Titles 7/8 44 22 1 21 774 871 –97 Richard Wallace (10) Eric Elwood (60)
Rugby World Cup Sevens Qualifying
RWC Competition Position Pld W D L PF PA Diff Qualification
1997 Portugal 1996 Qualifiers Cup Semifinalist 6 4 1 1 273 53 +220 Qualified
2001 Germany 2000 Qualifiers 3rd 8 7 0 1 245 74 +171 Qualified
2022 Romania 2022 Qualifiers — 4 4 0 0 140 17 +123 Qualified
Total — — 18 15 1 2 658 144 +514 —

Ireland has played in six out of the seven Rugby World Cup Sevens tournaments. Ireland's best finish was the inaugural 1993 tournament. In that tournament, they went 4–1 in pool play, including an upset win over France, to qualify to the quarterfinal round. In the quarterfinal round of pool play they went 2–1 with wins over Samoa and Tonga to reach the semifinals. Ireland faced Australia in the semifinal and was leading but an Australia try and conversion at the end resulted in a 19–21 loss.[43]

Since the inaugural tournament, however, Ireland's performances have been comparatively unremarkable, as they have yet to secure another quarterfinal place. At the 1997 tournament, Ireland finished 19th, posting a 1–5 record which included losses to minnows Hong Kong and Japan, with its only win a 33–5 victory over Portugal in the Bowl quarterfinal.[44][45] In 2001, Ireland finished fifth in its group of six, unable to notch wins against Russia or Korea, relegating it to the Bowl competition; they defeated Chinese Taipei in the Bowl quarterfinal but lost 12–33 to Portugal in the Bowl semifinal.[46][47]

In 2005, Ireland fared slightly better, with its 2–3 record in group play qualifying it for the Plate competition, where they lost to Samoa 14–19 in the Plate quarterfinal.[48] In 2009, Ireland was up-and-down in pool play, notching a surprise win against Australia, but a disappointing loss against Portugal.[49] Ireland was one of three teams in a four-team group to finish with a 1–2 record in pool play, but Ireland was ranked last in the group on points difference and was relegated to the Bowl competition.[50] There they posted a 2–1 record in knockout play, eventually losing to Zimbabwe in the Bowl final 17–14.[51][52] Ireland did not qualify for the 2013 World Cup, failing to send a team to the 2012 Sevens Grand Prix qualifying tournaments.

Ireland had a better tournament in 2018, defeating core teams Kenya, Wales, and Australia en route to a ninth-place finish, their best finish since the inaugural 1993 tournament.[53]

Ireland qualified for 2022 tournament, by going undefeated in their four matches at the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens European Qualifier in July 2022.[54] At the tournament Ireland won four of their five matches including a 24–14 quarterfinal victory over hosts South Africa, on their way to a bronze medal finish.[55][56]

Previous World Cup squads

[edit]

Rugby Europe Sevens

[edit]
Main article: Rugby Europe Sevens
Rugby Europe Sevens Record
Season Competition Position GP W D L Win % PF PA Diff Promotion / Qualification
2002–03 Did not compete
2004 Poland Qualifying 1st 8 6 0 2 75% 184 34 +150
Croatia Qualifying 2nd 6 5 0 1 83.33% 167 52 +115 Qualified for 2004 European Sevens Championship[57]
Spain Championship 3rd 6 4 0 2 66.67% 129 81 +47 Qualified for 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens
2005–07 Did not compete
2008 Denmark Qualifying 2nd 6 5 0 1 83.33% 242 39 +203
Poland Qualifying 1st 6 6 0 0 100% 200 0 +200 Qualified for 2008 European Sevens Championship[58]
Germany Championship 4th 7 4 0 3 57.14% 124 92 +32 Qualified for 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens
2009–14 Did not compete
2015 Bosnia and Herzegovina Division C 1st 6 6 0 0 100% 291 20 +271 Promoted to the 2015 Division B competition
Croatia Division B 1st 6 6 0 0 100% 384 0 +384 Qualified for 2015 Rugby Europe repechage;
Promoted to 2016 Division A (Trophy) competition
2016 Sweden Czech Republic Trophy 1st 12 12 0 0 100% 497 46 +451 Promoted to 2017 Grand Prix series
2017 Europe Grand Prix 2nd 24 21 0 3 87.5% 572 225 +347 Advanced to 2018 Hong Kong Sevens qualifier for World Series;
Qualified for 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens
2018 Europe Grand Prix 1st 24 23 0 1 95.83% 780 138 +642 Advanced to 2019 Hong Kong Sevens qualifier for World Series
2019 Russia Poland Grand Prix 3rd 12 8 0 4 66.67% 276 186 +90
2020 Cancelled due to Covid-19
2021 Did not compete
2022 Croatia Hungary Trophy 1st 12 12 0 0 100% 533 35 +366 Promoted to 2023 Championship Series[59]
2023 Portugal Germany Championship 1st 12 10 0 2 83.33% 254 132 +122
2024 CroatiaGermanyChampionship 2nd 12 10 1 1 83.33% 312 102 +210
Total — — 159 138 1 20 86.79% 4,945 1,182 +3,763 —

Updated 30 June 2024[60]

2002–2014

[edit]
Ireland defeated Ukraine 26–7 at the group stages of the 2008 European Championship

Although Rugby Europe has held a rugby sevens championship every year since 2002, Ireland rarely participated from 2002 to 2014. Ireland participated only twice during those 13 years − in 2004 and 2008, both of which served as European regional qualifying tournaments for the following year's Rugby World Cup Sevens. Ireland finished third in the 2004 competition to qualify for the 2005 World Cup. Ireland finished fourth in the 2008 competition to qualify for the 2009 World Cup.

2015−present

[edit]

The 2015 European competitions also doubled as qualifying for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Ireland played in the Division C tournament on 6–7 June and won the tournament with a 6–0 record, its closest match being the 38–10 quarterfinal win over Austria, qualifying for Division B. Ireland then played the Division B tournament on 20–21 June, and won Division B with a 6–0 record, its closest match being a 54–0 pool-play win over Slovenia, qualifying for the final repechage tournament.

Ireland played in the 2015 repechage on 18–19 July where they faced a tougher level of competition. Ireland went 2-1-0 in the repechage pool play to win its group and reach the knockout rounds. Ireland lost to Russia in the semifinals, 10–24, but defeated Georgia 15–7 to take third place and secure the last qualifying spot for the final cross-continental Olympic qualifying tournament. They lost in these quarterfinals to Spain and did not make the 2016 Summer Olympics medal round.

The 2016 Trophy competition consisted of two tournaments – Malmo and Prague. Ireland went 6–0 to win the 2016 Malmo tournament, with the closest match being the 26–12 semifinal win over Ukraine. Ireland next won the 2016 Prague tournament, again with a perfect 6–0 record, with the closest match being the 24–0 semifinal win over Romania. Ireland finished first in the 2016 Trophy competition and won promotion to the 2017 Grand Prix series.

The 2017 Grand Prix series consisted of four tournaments. Ireland began the Grand Prix by winning the 2017 Moscow Sevens with a 5–1 record, defeating Russia 28–21 in the semifinals and Spain 12–0 in the finals.[61] Next, Ireland finished third in the 2017 Lodz Sevens with a 5–1 record, losing to Russia 19–26 in the semifinals. Ireland next won the 2017 Clermont-Ferrand Sevens with a 6–0 record, defeating Russia 17–14 in the final.[62] In the fourth and final tournament, the 2017 Exeter Sevens, Ireland finished with a 5–1 record, losing to Wales 12–15 in the semifinals. Ireland finished the 2017 Sevens Grand Prix Series in second place two points behind Russia, thereby qualifying for the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens, and advancing to the 2018 Hong Kong Sevens qualifying tournament for the 2018-19 World Series.

In the 2018 Europe Grand Prix Series, Ireland started strong, winning the 2018 Moscow Sevens with a 6–0 record, winning all six matches by a margin of more than 20 points.

Having not participated in Rugby Europe Sevens since 2019, Ireland returned to the Trophy Series by winning the opening leg of the Series in Zagreb, defeating England in the final.[63] The following week they claimed the 2022 Rugby Europe Sevens Trophy and sealed their promotion back to the Rugby Europe Championship by winning all six matches of the Budapest leg, defeating England in the final 35–14.[59] Ireland won the first leg of the 2023 Championship tournament defeating Georgia in the Algarve final, 19–10.[64] Ireland earned a third-place finish at the Hamburg event, thereby clinching the 2023 Rugby Europe Sevens Championship.[65]

Other international tournaments

[edit]
Ireland defeated Chile at the 2017 Oktoberfest 7s tournament.
Ireland at International Tournaments
Tournament Position GP W D L Win % PF PA Diff
Scotland 1973 International Seven-a-side Tournament 2nd 5 4 0 1 80% 80 56 +24
Hong Kong 1993 Hong Kong Sevens Cup Quarterfinals 3 2 0 1 66.67% 43 22 +21
Hong Kong 1994 Hong Kong Sevens Plate Quarterfinals 3 1 0 2 33.33% 59 36 +23
Hong Kong 1995 Hong Kong Sevens Plate Quarterfinals 3 0 1 2 0% 45 57 –12
1995 Melun Sevens 4 1 0 3 25% 85 117 –32
Hong Kong 1996 Hong Kong Sevens Cup Quarterfinals 4 2 1 1 50% 78 83 –5
Hong Kong 1999 Hong Kong Sevens Plate Quarterfinals 4 2 0 2 50% 59 87 –28
France 1999 Paris Sevens Bowl Quarterfinals 4 0 0 4 0% 43 117 –74
Spain 2015 Elche Invitational 3rd 5 2 0 3 40% 101 107 –6
Germany 2017 Oktoberfest Sevens 7th 6 2 0 4 33.33% 52 95 –43
Spain 2017 Elche Invitational 2nd 6 4 0 2 66.67% 145 50 +95
United States 2017 Silicon Valley Sevens 9th 5 3 0 2 66.67% 81 53 +28
Uruguay Chile 2018 Sudamérica Rugby Sevens 5th 12 8 1 3 66.67% 249 126 +123
Spain 2019 Elche Invitational 2nd 6 5 0 1 83.33% 147 70 +77
England 2019 Rugby X Tournament Runner-up 4 3 0 1 75% 95 65 +30
England 2021 International Rugby 7s 1st[66] 6 4 0 2 66.67% 107 62 +45
Total — 80 43 3 34 53.75% 1469 1203 +266

The results listed above are inclusive of tournaments played outside of the World Rugby Sevens Series, Olympics, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Rugby Europe Sevens tournaments.[7][67][60]

Ireland Wolfhounds

[edit]

An Irish Wolfhounds side, often composed of both Irish and English rugby internationals, competed at many of the Hong Kong Sevens events between 1984 and 1992.[68][69][70] This team was not an official representative side.[69] Nonetheless, they achieved moderate success reaching several Cup quarterfinals.[71] The Wolfhounds also won the 1991 Melrose Sevens, an annual sevens competition contested by club sides.[72] In 2015 the Wolfhounds returned as an 'A' side to help strengthen the national sevens player pool.[73] The side competed in the GB7s tour against club competition.[74][75][76]

Ireland Wolfhounds at International Tournaments
Tournament Position GP W D L Win % PF PA Diff
Hong Kong 1984 Hong Kong Sevens Cup Semifinals 2 1 0 1 50% 30 16 +14
Hong Kong 1985 Hong Kong Sevens Cup Quarterfinals 3 2 0 1 66.67% 60 44 +16
Hong Kong 1988 Hong Kong Sevens Cup Quarterfinals 3 2 0 1 66.67% 42 52 –10
Hong Kong 1989 Hong Kong Sevens Cup Quarterfinals 3 2 0 1 66.67% 62 28 +34
Italy1991 Sicily Sevens — 1 1 0 0 100% 22 4 +18
Hong Kong 1992 Hong Kong Sevens Plate Semifinals 4 2 0 2 50% 62 44 +18
Portugal 1993 Lisbon Sevens — 1 0 0 1 0% 10 19 –9
France 1994 Besagne Sevens — 1 0 1 0 0% 12 12 0
Total — 18 10 1 7 55.56% 300 219 +81

Updated as of 4 March 2021.[71]

Overall Record

[edit]
Tournament GP W D L Win % PF PA Diff
World Rugby Sevens Series 261 124 8 129 47.51% 4737 4575 +162
World Series Qualifier 11 9 1 1 81.82% 327 72 +255
Olympics 11 5 0 6 45.45% 175 155 +20
Olympic Qualifiers 29 23 2 4 79.31% 773 306 +467
Rugby World Cup Sevens 44 22 1 21 50% 774 871 –97
World Cup Qualifiers 18 15 1 2 83.33% 658 144 +514
Rugby Europe Sevens 159 138 1 20 86.79% 4,945 1,182 +3763
Other International Tournaments 80 43 3 34 53.75% 1469 1203 +266
Total 613 379 17 217 61.83% 13,858 8,508 +5,350

The above records are up to date as of 27 July 2024.
These records do not include matches played as the Ireland Wolfhounds.

Head to Head

[edit]

Results are inclusive of all international competitions.
Updated as of 27 July 2024[66][77]

Honours

[edit]

1973 International Seven-a-side Tournament

  • Runner-up: 1973

Rugby World Cup Sevens

SVNS

Australian Sevens

Dubai Sevens

France Sevens

Hong Kong Sevens

London Sevens

Singapore Sevens

USA Sevens

Third-place: 2024

World Series qualifier

Rugby Europe Sevens

Rugby Europe Sevens Trophy

Rugby Europe Sevens Division B

Rugby Europe Sevens Division C

European Games

Elche Invitational

  • Runner-up: 2017, 2019
  • Third-place: 2015

International Rugby 7s

  • Winners: 2021

Player records

[edit]

World Series (career)

[edit]

The tables above show players career statistics from the World Rugby Sevens Series main tournament up to 5 June 2024.[81]

The Irish record holders in the World Series for the era preceding the Olympics and professional era of rugby sevens are:

World Series (season)

[edit]

World Cup

[edit]

The tables above show players career statistics from the Rugby World Rugby Cup Sevens up to 11 September 2022.

Award winners

[edit]

The following Ireland Sevens players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2004:[86][87]

Other notable players

[edit]
British & Irish Lions British & Irish Lions
 Ireland internationals
Ireland IRFU referees

Source:[88][89][90]

Head coaches

[edit]
Coach Tenure Best Series Best Series
Tournament		 Olympics World Cup
Wales Ray Southam[44] 1997 Not held Not held Not held 1997: 19th
Ireland Denis McBride[91][92] 1999–2002 17th (2000–01) 9th (2000 London) Not held 2001: 19th
Australia Ryan Constable[93] 2004–2005 — 14th (2004 Dubai) Not held 2005: 13th
Ireland Jon Skurr[94] 2008–2009 Did not appear Did not appear Not held 2009: 18th
Australia Anthony Eddy[22] 2015–2022 6th (2021) 3rd (2018 London) 2016: DNQ
2020: 10th		 2018: 9th
Ireland James Topping 2022– 2nd (2023–24 League) 2nd (2022 France
2022 Dubai
2024 Singapore)		 2024: 6th 2022: 3rd

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Caps include only those earned on the World Rugby Sevens Series main event
  2. ^ Points include only those scored on the Sevens Series main event
  3. ^ Tries include only those scored on the Sevens Series main event

References

[edit]
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