The Ireland Women's Sevens squad finished as bronze medal winners at the HSBC Canada Sevens tournament in Langford ©Travis Prior
The Ireland Women added Langford bronze to Seville silver as they secured their second successive podium finish in this season’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
In Pics: Ireland Celebrate Bronze Medal Success In Canada
Ireland overcame familiar foes France to win the Bronze final 22-14, with Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe running in all four tries to cap off an outstanding weekend for the star winger.
Murphy Crowe, who turned 27 last Tuesday, excelled again as the tournament’s top try scorer with 12, including the last-gasp match winner against the USA which sent Ireland through to the Cup semi-finals.
The Tipperary native became the first Irish woman to score four tries in a World Series match and the first Irish player – male or female – to score more than 10 tries in a World Series tournament.
Murphy Crowe’s previous best haul for a single World Series event was nine (Sydney 2019 and Seville this year). New Zealand great Portia Woodman holds the record with 14 tries in Atlanta back in 2015.
2022 has seen the IRFU Women’s Sevens programme reach new heights on the series, putting together high-ranking finishes of fifth in Malaga, second in Seville, and third in Langford.
Aiden McNulty’s in-form side lie fifth in the World Series standings ahead of the final leg in Toulouse (May 20-22). They have 54 ranking points, just two less than the USA who currently occupy third place. France, in second, have 60.
They are now guaranteed to achieve Ireland’s highest ever finish for a Women’s World Series campaign. Their previous best was eighth place in 2018/19.
It means Ireland will take serious momentum into a busy summer schedule, with the start of the Rugby Europe Championship – the first staging post on the journey to Paris 2024 Olympic qualification – and a standalone Rugby World Cup Sevens qualifying tournament in July.
Australia, who have been crowned World Series champions for 2022, ended Ireland’s Cup hopes in Canada with a 26-5 semi-final defeat. They went on to win the Langford leg, beating the returning New Zealand team 21-17.
Another big positive for Ireland was the impact of Vicky Elmes Kinlan on her World Series debut. The Wicklow youngster (19) was sprung from the bench in five games, scoring tries against France and Australia.
The youngest member of the squad is 18-year-old forward Erin King from Blessington. After only making her debut in Dubai in December, she continues to impress, particularly in defence, and made five starts in Langford.
Suttonians’ Kate Farrell McCabe, who turned 21 at the start of the year, was also rewarded for her consistent performances with four starts. Another of the new caps in Dubai, she now has 24 series matches and two tries under her belt.
It was a very impressive squad effort from Lucy Mulhall and her team-mates, especially as they unfortunately lost Béibhinn Parsons to injury for the play-offs on day two.
With 32 tries across five tournaments, Murphy Crowe is on course to finish as the series’ top try scorer for the second time in three seasons. Her closest rival is Australia’s Charlotte Caslick on 24.
Claire Boles (Railway Union RFC)
Megan Burns (Blackrock College RFC)
Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC) *
Kate Farrell McCabe (Suttonians RFC)
Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC)
Katie Heffernan (Mullingar RFC/Railway Union RFC)
Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC)
Brittany Hogan (Ballynahinch RFC/Old Belvedere RFC)
Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC)
Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC)
Lucy Mulhall (Rathdrum RFC) (capt)
Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union RFC)
Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC)
* Denotes uncapped player
Saturday, April 30 –
POOL B:
IRELAND 22 JAPAN 7, Starlight Stadium
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe 3, Kate Farrell McCabe; Con: Lucy Mulhall
Japan: Try: Hana Nagata; Con: Hana Nagata
HT: Ireland 17 Japan 0
Team: Stacey Flood, Eve Higgins, Erin King, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Lucy Mulhall (capt), Emily Lane, Kate Farrell McCabe.
Subs used: Katie Heffernan, Brittany Hogan, Megan Burns, Vicky Elmes Kinlan. Not used: Béibhinn Parsons.
IRELAND 31 BRAZIL 14, Starlight Stadium
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe 3, Eve Higgins, Béibhinn Parsons; Cons: Lucy Mulhall 3
Brazil: Tries: Thalia Costa, Gabriela Lima; Cons: Raquel Kochhann 2
HT: Ireland 19 Brazil 7
Team: Stacey Flood, Eve Higgins, Erin King, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Lucy Mulhall (capt), Emily Lane, Kate Farrell McCabe.
Subs used: Megan Burns, Béibhinn Parsons, Katie Heffernan, Brittany Hogan, Claire Boles.
IRELAND 12 FRANCE 28, Starlight Stadium
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Vicky Elmes Kinlan; Con: Lucy Mulhall
France: Tries: Seraphine Okemba 2, Chloe Pelle, Lou Noel; Cons: Jade Ulutule 3, Shannon Izar
HT: Ireland 5 France 21
Team: Stacey Flood, Béibhinn Parsons, Erin King, Amee Leigh Murphy Crowe, Lucy Mulhall (capt), Eve Higgins, Emily Lane.
Subs used: Katie Heffernan, Kate Farrell McCabe, Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Megan Burns. Not used: Claire Boles.
Day 1 Round-Up: Ireland Women Reach Last-Eight In Langford
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – Canada Sevens Results
HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – Canada Sevens Pool Tables
Sunday, May 1 –
CUP QUARTER-FINAL:
IRELAND 17 USA 14, Starlight Stadium
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Lucy Mulhall, Katie Heffernan, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe; Con: Lucy Mulhall
USA: Tries: Jaz Gray, Kristi Kirshe; Cons: Nicole Heavirland 2
HT: Ireland 7 USA 7
Team: Stacey Flood, Eve Higgins, Erin King, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Lucy Mulhall (capt), Emily Lane, Kate Farrell McCabe.
Subs used: Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Katie Heffernan, Brittany Hogan. Not used: Claire Boles, Megan Burns.
CUP SEMI-FINAL:
IRELAND 5 AUSTRALIA 26, Starlight Stadium
Scorers: Ireland: Try: Vicky Elmes Kinlan
Australia: Tries: Charlotte Caslick, Faith Nathan 2, Sariah Paki; Cons: Sharni Williams 2, Dominique du Toit
HT: Ireland 5 France 21
Team: Stacey Flood, Eve Higgins, Erin King, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Lucy Mulhall (capt), Emily Lane, Kate Farrell McCabe.
Subs used: Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Katie Heffernan, Claire Boles, Brittany Hogan. Not used: Megan Burns.
BRONZE FINAL:
FRANCE 14 IRELAND 22, Starlight Stadium
Scorers: France: Tries: Séraphine Okemba, Lou Noel; Cons: Jade Ulutule, Shannon Izar
Ireland: Tries: Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe 4; Con: Lucy Mulhall
HT: Ireland 5 France 21
Team: Stacey Flood, Eve Higgins, Brittany Hogan, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Lucy Mulhall (capt), Emily Lane, Megan Burns.
Subs used: Katie Heffernan, Erin King, Kate Farrell McCabe, Vicky Elmes Kinlan. Not used: Claire Boles.
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