Ireland Sevens Squads Set For Pre-Season Tournament In Elche

As the countdown continues to the opening leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2022 in Dubai, the Ireland Men’s and Women’s Sevens squads will step up their preparations for the season ahead at this weekend’s annual Elche 7s tournament.

IRFU Director of Sevens and Women’s Rugby, Anthony Eddy, has selected a 12-player Ireland Men’s squad for the trip to Spain, while 15 players have been named in the Ireland Women’s panel as focus intensifies on the back-to-back World Series tournaments in Dubai in late November/early December.

The Ireland Men, coming off the back of encouraging performances in World Series events in Vancouver and Edmonton last month, will face France, Spain, Germany and invitational sides Zastava and Viator Barbarians at the Elche 7s.

The Ireland Women will return to action against Belgium, Poland, Spain and Viator Costa Blanca on Saturday and Sunday.

Eddy has selected an exciting mix of youth and experience in both panels, with Olympians Terry Kennedy, Jordan Conroy and Hugo Lennox included in the Men’s squad alongside Leinster Academy backs Niall Comerford and Chris Cosgrave, who impressed in Canada last month.

Ireland Under-20 international Jude Postlethwaite is also named in the travelling party.

Lucy Mulhall will lead the Ireland Women, who have plenty of World Series experience within their ranks.

Erin King and Katie Whelan will be among those hoping to showcase their talents on the international stage having stood out for Leinster during the recent Under-18 Women’s Interprovincial Championship.

Speaking ahead of the weekend’s matches, Eddy said the Elche 7s tournament will provide both squads with a valuable opportunity to build towards the campaign ahead.

“The Elche tournament is always a good event, and the players are looking forward to it. This tournament provides us with a good opportunity to see some new faces as we prepare for the new HSBC World Sevens Series season,” he said.

“There is good depth in both the Men’s and Women’s squads and competition for places in World Series tournaments will be a real contest, so it is important that we go to Elche with an attitude of performing well.”

A live stream of the Elche 7s is available here.

Ireland Men’s Sevens Squad:

Jordan Conroy (Buccaneers RFC)
Niall Comerford (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Chris Cosgrave (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Sean Cribbin (Suttonians RFC)
Fergus Jemphrey (Blackheath RFC/IQ Rugby)
Sean Kearns (Ireland Sevens)
Terry Kennedy (St Mary’s College RFC)
Hugo Lennox (Skerries RFC)
Matthew McDonald (IQ Rugby)
Aaron O’Sullivan (Blackrock College RFC)
Jude Postlethwaite (Banbridge RFC/Ulster)
Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC)

Ireland Women’s Sevens Squad:

Claire Boles (Railway Union RFC)
Megan Burns (Blackrock College RFC)
Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union RFC)
Katie Heffernan (Mullingar RFC/Railway Union RFC)
Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC)
Brittany Hogan (DCU RFC/Old Belvedere RFC)
Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC)
Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC)
Maeve Liston (Blackrock College RFC)
Kate Farrell McCabe (Suttonians RFC)
Grace Moore (Railway Union RFC/IQ Rugby)
Lucy Mulhall (Rathdrum RFC) (capt)
Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC)
Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC)
Katie Whelan (Enniscorthy RFC)

Elche 7s Schedule:

Saturday, October 16:

• Ireland Women v Belgium, 10.20am Irish time
• Ireland Men v Zastava, 11am Irish time
• Ireland Women v Poland, 12.20pm Irish time
• Ireland Men v Germany, 1.20pm Irish time
• Ireland Women v Viator Costa Blanca, 1.40pm Irish time
• Ireland Men v France, 3pm Irish time
• Ireland Women v Spain, 4pm Irish time

Sunday, October 17:

• Ireland Men v Spain, 10.40am Irish time
• Ireland Men v Viator Barbarians, 12pm Irish time
• Play-Off Matches – to be confirmed