Stand-in captain Mark Roche lifts the trophy after the Ireland Men's Hamburg Sevens final success against France ©Jürgen Kessler/Rugby Europe
Warming up for the Olympics in less than a month’s time, the Ireland Men’s Sevens team (sponsored by TritonLake) won the Hamburg Sevens tournament with a hard-fought 19-14 final win over France.
It took a 13th-minute penalty try for James Topping’s charges to come out on top in wet conditions, with Matthew McDonald and Hugo Keenan registering the earlier scores.
Eight members of the 12-player Olympic squad, and the two travelling reserves, were involved as Ireland won the final leg of the Rugby Europe Sevens Championship. Scrum half Hugo Lennox was selected as the Player of the Tournament.
Captained this weekend by Mark Roche, they managed to avenge their 12-7 final defeat to France from the opening leg in Makarska, Croatia, but the French side were crowned European champions, on scoring difference across the two events.
A bruising first half ended all square with Ireland striking late to make it seven points apiece. Ed Kelly chased Keenan’s kick downfield, leading the counter-ruck to force turnover ball, and the influential McDonald had the quick feet and strength to score under the posts.
☘️ Hugo Keenan helps Ireland to victory in Hamburg against France as they win 19- 14! pic.twitter.com/k4LYZGW2zw
— Rugby Europe (@rugby_europe) June 30, 2024
As the French defence drifted across in the ninth minute, Keenan slipped through a gap to score from 40 metres out. France responded quickly, using a penalty to break free with Victor Hannoun darting in behind the posts.
Trailing 14-12, it was Lennox, Zac Ward, and Connor O’Sullivan who led a powerful surge back into the French 22. Ward was stopped short, but Luca Mignot’s deliberate knock-on prevented Ireland from capitalising on a two-on-one overlap out wide.
Referee Paulo Duarte produced his yellow card and, following a short consultation with his nearby assistant, awarded the penalty try. It was the final score of another absorbing battle between these two teams.
Meanwhile, it was a positive final day for the Ireland Women (sponsored by TritonLake) as they bounced back from their Cup quarter-final exit to beat Germany (12-0) and Czechia (26-12) for a fifth place finish.
Tries from Megan Burns, who sidestepped into space and burst clear from inside her own half, and Eve Higgins saw Allan Temple-Jones’ side get the better of the tournament hosts this morning.
Having lost to Czechia in the pool stages on Friday, Ireland made sure to reverse that result. Higgins and Stacey Flood both touched down for a 14-0 half-time lead, before Ashleigh Orchard and Vicky Elmes Kinlan sandwiched Czechia’s second half scores.
Led by Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe in their final outing before their Olympic debut, the Women’s squad in Hamburg was the full Olympic selection, apart from absent skipper Lucy Rock.
Ireland Sevens Squad Announcements
Day 1 Round-Up: Ireland Men Build First Day Momentum At Hamburg Sevens
Day 1 Round-Up: Ireland Women Still In Hamburg Hunt Despite Opening Defeats
You can watch all the action live from Hamburg on Rugby Europe TV here.
Niall Comerford (UCD RFC)
Jordan Conroy (Buccaneers RFC)
Sean Cribbin (Suttonians RFC)
Hugo Keenan (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Ed Kelly (Dublin University FC)
Hugo Lennox (Skerries RFC)
Matthew McDonald (Ireland Sevens)
Bryan Mollen (UCD RFC)
Chay Mullins (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht/IQ Rugby)
Connor O’Sullivan (Lansdowne FC)
Mark Roche (Lansdowne FC) (capt)
Andrew Smith (Clontarf FC/Connacht)
Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC)
Kathy Baker (Blackrock College RFC)
Claire Boles (Railway Union RFC)
Megan Burns (Blackrock College RFC)
Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union RFC) (capt)
Alanna Fitzpatrick (Portarlington RFC/Blackrock College RFC)
Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC)
Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC)
Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC)
Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC)
Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC)
Amy Larn (Athy RFC/MU Barnhall RFC)
Ashleigh Orchard (Cooke RFC)
Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC)
Friday, June 28:
Saturday, June 29:
Sunday, June 30:
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