Ireland Squad Announced For RWC Sevens

The squad contains a number of players who helped Ireland to qualification last summer including James Coughlan, Brian Tuohy and Kieran Campbell who will captain the side.

Former Under-20 Grand Slam winner Felix Jones, Ulster scrum half Paul Marshall and Connacht flyer Daniel Riordan have also been included in the 12-man panel.

Ireland qualified for the finals, which take place in Dubai from March 5 to March 7, courtesy of their performances in the qualifying tournaments in Poland, Denmark and Germany last summer.

Ireland have been drawn in a tough pool for the RWC Sevens alongside Australia, Samoa and noted Sevens exponents Portugal.

Fans can keep up to date with all the action online with live and on demand streaming of the games – click here for more details.

Ireland will open their RWC Sevens campaign against Samoa on Thursday March 5, with games against Australia and Portugal the following day.

IRELAND RUGBY WORLD CUP SEVENS SQUAD (Dubai, March 5-7):

Gary Brown (Blackrock College – Leinster)
Kieran Campbell ( Galwegians – Connacht) (capt)
Brian Carney (Clonakilty – Munster)
James Coughlan (Dolphin – Munster)
Conan Doyle (Garryowen – Munster)
Tom Gleeson (Cork Constitution – Munster)
Eoghan Grace (Shannon – Munster)
Felix Jones (Old Belvedere – Leinster)
Paul Marshall (Belfast Harlequins – Ulster)
Daniel Riordan (Buccaneers – Connacht)
Kyle Tonetti (Blackrock College – Leinster)
Brian Tuohy (Cornish Pirates)

In addition to this, the Ireland squad, along with three extra players – Max Rantz McDonald (Clontarf), Mark McCrea (Malone – Ulster) and Cian Aherne (UCD – Leinster) – will take part in a warm-up tournament in Portugal this coming weekend.

Ireland Sevens Management –

Hugh McCaughey – Manager
Jon Skurr – Coach
Simon Harland – Physiotherapist
Fergal O’Callaghan – Fitness
Ashley Blair – Masseuse
Vinny Hammond – Video Analyst

Ireland Match Schedule Rugby World Cup Sevens –

Match Day 1: 
Thursday, March 5, 2009 6.06pm Samoa v Ireland 
7pm Opening Ceremony

Match Day 2: 
Friday, March 6, 2009 2.40pm Australia v Ireland
4.52pm Portugal v Ireland

Match Day 3: 
Saturday, March 7, 2009 FINAL DAY  
10.30pm Men’s Quarter-Finals
5.08pm Men’s Semi-Finals
6.30pm Men’s Bowl Final
7.30pm Men’s Plate Final
8.35pm Men’s Cup Final
9.30pm Closing Ceremony

* All times are local/Ireland is four hours behind

For more information on the Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament, please visit www.rwcsevens.com.

For Ireland previews, match reports and features during the tournament, log on to www.IrishRugby.ie.