Ireland Squads Set For Big Weekend Of World Series Action In Hong Kong

The race for Olympic qualification hots up this weekend as the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series rolls into Hong Kong for a historic double header event.

For the first time in the Hong Kong Sevens’ 46-year history, the top 12 Women’s nations, including invitational team Hong Kong China, will join the Men’s Series for a thrilling three-day competition in front of an expected crowd of more than 100,000 fans over the weekend.

The Ireland Men’s and Women’s Sevens squads, sponsored by TritonLake, are bidding to book their tickets for Paris 2024 through this year’s World Series, with the top four teams in the overall standings securing qualification for the Games.

The Ireland Men are currently sitting in eighth place after seven rounds of the 2022/23 campaign, most recently performing strongly at the Canada Sevens in Vancouver earlier this month.

James Topping’s side will hope to bring that momentum into Hong Kong this weekend, from the pool stages which kick off on Friday through to the tournament’s deciding games on Sunday.

There are just 11 points between eighth-placed Ireland and Fiji, who currently sit fourth, and with four legs of the Men’s Series left to play – Hong Kong, Singapore, Toulouse and London – there is still a lot to play for in the weeks ahead.

Ireland have been paired with South Africa, Kenya and New Zealand in Pool D for the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, with Topping naming a strong 13-player travelling squad, captained by Harry McNulty.

The Ireland Women, meanwhile, have a first ever Olympic qualification within their sights as they prepare for the final two legs of the Women’s Series.

The Lucy Mulhall-led team are currently sitting in fifth position, but with Olympic hosts France occupying fourth place, Ireland would secure their place at the 2024 Games as things stand.

They head to Hong Kong knowing two more strong performances at the Hong Kong Stadium and in Toulouse in May would put them in a good position to achieve their ultimate ambition.

The girls in green are currently 10 points ahead of Fiji, whom they face in pool action in Hong Kong along with Australia and Brazil.

You can watch both Ireland Sevens teams in action on the World Rugby Sevens Series website and app.

Jordan Conroy (Buccaneers RFC)

Sean Cribbin (Suttonians RFC)

Fergus Jemphrey (Ballynahinch RFC)

Jack Kelly (Dublin University FC)

Hugo Lennox (Skerries RFC)

Matt McDonald (IQ Rugby)

Liam McNamara (IQ Rugby)

Harry McNulty (UCD RFC) (capt)

Chay Mullins (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht/IQ Rugby)

Dylan O’Grady (UCD RFC)

Mark Roche (Lansdowne FC)

Tom Roche (Lansdowne FC)

Andrew Smith (Clontarf FC/Leinster)