Ireland Women Reach Last-Eight In Langford

Murphy Crowe claimed hat-tricks against both Japan and Brazil, with the respective 22-7 and 31-14 wins seeing Aiden McNulty’s side finish as runners-up in Pool B.

The Tipperary speedster is the tournament’s top try scorer so far – two ahead of Brazil’s Thalia Costa – and is now joint-seventh on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series’ all-time list with 125 tries in 156 matches.

Ireland completed the pool stages with a 24-12 defeat to France, but can look forward to a Cup quarter-final clash with the USA at Starlight Stadium later today (kick-off 10.44am local time/6.44pm Irish time).

Wicklow starlet Vicky Elmes Kinlan, who only turned 19 in February, had a day to remember as she made her World Series debut and then followed up with her first try at this level.

In the final minute of the French game, Elmes Kinlan picked up turnover ball and scampered in under the posts from 35 metres out. Her World Series bow comes on the back of her impressive form during a recent training camp in France.

Langford marks the start of an important period for the Ireland squad, with the conclusion of the World Series followed by 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.

IRELAND WOMEN’S SEVENS Squad (HSBC Canada Sevens, Starlight Stadium, Langford, April/May 2022):

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

HSBC WORLD RUGBY SEVENS SERIES – CANADA SEVENS FIXTURES/RESULTS:

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.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – Canada Sevens Fixtures/Results

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – Canada Sevens Pool Tables

Sunday, May 1 –

CUP QUARTER-FINAL:

IRELAND v USA, Starlight Stadium, kick-off 10.44am local time/6.44pm Irish time