Ireland Squad Confirmed for Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament
IRFU Director of Sevens and Women’s Rugby, Anthony Eddy, has named the Ireland Women’s Sevens squad to compete in the Women’s Global Olympic Qualifying tournament in UCD this weekend.
The side, captained by Lucy Mulhall, is made up predominately of players who have competed on the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series circuit this season.
Backs Mulhall, Aoife Doyle, Louise Galvin, Stacey Flood, Alison Miller and Amee Leigh Crowe were all involved at stages across the series, as were forwards Ashleigh Baxter, Kim Flood, Audrey O’Flynn and Megan Williams.
Nicole Cronin, who returned from injury to take part in the Rugby Europe Grand Prix Series leg in Kazan earlier this month, is joined by Ireland 15s captain Niamh Briggs who was also involved in Kazan.
The girls in green have been drawn in Pool C with China, Portugal and Trinidad & Tobago. There are two prizes at stake for the Irish side, as not only will they be vying to win Olympic qualification, they are also seeking to maintain their place as a core team on the World Series.
Top seeds Russia and Spain have already secured their places for the 2016/17 HSBC Women’s Sevens Series and the team that finishes top – exclusive of those two – will join them on the series next season.
Speaking ahead of the squad moving into UCD for the tournament, Anthony Eddy said: “The tournament this weekend is something we’ve been building towards all season. With both Olympic qualification and a place as a core team on next season’s World Series, we are very much aware of what is at stake.
“The players have gained great experience from being on the World Series this year and understand what is required from them in UCD this weekend, so they are looking forward to competing in front of a home crowd and hopefully we can get a good result.”
Ireland’s first game on Saturday is against Trinidad & Tobago at 12.34pm, they will then face Portugal at 3.40pm and play China in their final Pool C fixture at 6.46pm.
Tickets for the two-day tournament at Belfield are available here – www.ticketmaster.ie/sevens.
IRELAND WOMEN’S SEVENS Squad (World Rugby Women’s Sevens Olympic Repechage, UCD Bowl, Saturday, June 25-Sunday, June 26):
Ashleigh Baxter (Cooke/Ulster)
Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Nicole Cronin (Shannon/Munster)
Aoife Doyle (Shannon/Munster)
Louise Galvin (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Kim Flood (Railway Union/Leinster)
Stacey Flood (Railway Union/Leinster)
Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht)
Lucy Mulhall (Rathdrum/Leinster) (capt)
Amee-Leigh Crowe (Railway Union/Munster)
Audrey O’Flynn (Talent ID Programme)
Megan Williams (St. Mary’s)
WOMEN’S SEVENS OLYMPIC REPECHAGE – IRELAND FIXTURES:
Saturday, June 25 –
Pool C:
IRELAND v Trinidad & Tobago, UCD Bowl, 12.34pm
IRELAND v Portugal, UCD Bowl, 3.40pm
IRELAND v China, UCD Bowl, 6.46pm
Sunday, June 26 –
Play-Offs
Women’s Sevens Olympic Repechage – Full Fixtures/Pools
Matches will be streamed via www.worldrugby.org. Match updates will be available via @IrishRugby Twitter page.