Ireland Sevens Match Tracker – HSBC SVNS Vancouver

Back-to-back defeats made it a difficult start to the HSBC SVNS Vancouver event for both Ireland Sevens teams (sponsored by TritonLake). The pool action concludes later tonight under the roof at BC Place.

The Ireland Women lost 58-7 to New Zealand – Michaela Brake (nee Blyde) touched down five times as she became the top try scorer in Women’s Sevens Series history – before two closing tries, including a first on the circuit for Ellen Boylan, saw them rally against the USA.

However, a 31-17 reversal at the hands of the US leaves Allan Temple-Jones’ young side bottom of Pool B ahead of their clash with China (kick-off 2.02pm local time/10.02pm Irish time – live on RugbyPass TV).

Captained by Megan Burns, Ireland have the second most inexperienced squad in Vancouver, apart from China. Clare Gorman also ran in her maiden SVNS Series try against New Zealand, while Wicklow’s Ella Roberts is on debut.

Meanwhile, a heavyweight Pool B campaign for the Ireland Men began with losses to Australia (17-7) and South Africa (28-7). Hugo Lennox and Josh Kenny were their try scorers, with Kenny, James Dillon, Tadhg Brophy, and Josh Costello getting more starts under their belts.

James Topping’s charges, who are skippered by Bryan Mollen, have Connacht’s Daniel Hawkshaw set to win his first Sevens cap. They wrap up their pool run against New Zealand at 11.14am local time/7.14pm Irish time – live on RugbyPass TV).

Retirements and moves into the 15s game have meant this is a transitional period for the Ireland Men following the Paris Olympics, and that is the case too for the Ireland Women.

The Men’s team are currently bottom of the SVNS Series standings, while the Women’s side, who have the vast majority of their 2024 Olympians focused on 15s ahead of this year’s Rugby World Cup, are eighth overall.

Ireland Squads Selected For Vancouver Leg Of SVNS Series

IRELAND SEVENS FIXTURES/RESULTS – HSBC SVNS VANCOUVER:

Friday, February 21 –

Australia 17 Ireland Men 7 – Match Centre

New Zealand 58 Ireland Women 7 – Match Centre

South Africa 28 Ireland Men 7 – Match Centre

USA 31 Ireland Women 17 – Match Centre

Saturday, February 22 –

New Zealand 31 v Ireland Men 21 – Match Centre

China 29 Ireland Women 0 – Match Centre

Sunday, February 23 –

USA 21 Ireland Men 0 – 9th Place Playoff – Match Centre

China 15 Ireland Women 7 – 9th Place Playoff – Match Centre

Ireland Men 19 Kenya 14 – 11th Place Playoff

Spain 28 Ireland Women 5 – 11th Place Playoff