Ireland Men’s Sevens Team Secure Olympic Qualification

James Topping’s side booked their ticket to Paris 2024 by claiming victory at the European Games in Krakow tonight.

Following their maiden appearance at the Tokyo 2020 Games, the Ireland Men will once again compete at sport’s showpiece event in Paris next summer, joining the Ireland Women’s Sevens side who made history in May by qualifying for their first Olympics.

It is another landmark and momentous achievement for the IRFU’s Sevens Programme, with both teams now set to compete at the Olympics together for the first time.

The Ireland Men become the seventh team to qualify for Paris 2024, joining hosts France, New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji, Australia and Uruguay. The remaining six spots will be filled by regional qualifying tournaments and next year’s World Rugby repechage event.

Topping’s charges secured the inaugural European Games Men’s Sevens title – and the golden ticket to Paris – courtesy of a 26-12 win over close rivals Great Britain at the Henryk Reyman Stadium.

Billy Dardis, 2022 World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year Terry Kennedy, and Jordan Conroy (2) all crossed for Ireland in the Cup final, completing an unbeaten tournament for the Harry McNulty-led side.

Ireland were in clinical form to progress through to the knockout stages as Pool A winners, defeating Poland, Italy and Germany before overcoming Belgium at the quarter-final stage and Portugal in the last-four.

The Olympic Rugby Sevens competition runs from July 24-30, 2024 at the Stade de France in Paris.