Two Narrow Defeats Leave Ireland Women Fighting For Fifth

It was three tries each in the Pool C decider against the USA, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Kathy Baker and Béibhinn Parsons all touching down but the Eagles took a hard-fought 19-17 verdict.

A Caroline Drouin conversion was all that stood between Ireland and France in a hotly-contested Cup quarter-final, with les Bleues prevailing 12-10 to put Aiden McNulty’s side in the 5th-8th place bracket.

It was a tough result for Ireland to take given they had finished the game strongly, captain Lucy Mulhall going over out wide in the last minute before her crucial conversion attempt fell wide.

They had been inches away from drawing level before that, a TMO review ruling that Parsons had knocked on in her attempts to score from a Stacey Flood kick through.

Having finished fourth at the last three tournaments, Ireland will now aim for fifth under the BC Place dome, returning to the pitch for a 5th place semi-final against hosts Canada later today (kick-off 11.46am local time/7.46pm Irish time).

There are important HSBC World Series points on the line, with the Ireland Women currently occupying an Olympic qualification berth. They are 16 points clear of Fiji and Great Britain, who contest the other 5th place semi-final.

You can watch all the action as the Ireland Women compete at BC Place, via the World Rugby Sevens Match Centre here. You will need to register for a free World Rugby account.

IRELAND WOMEN’S SEVENS Squad (HSBC Canada Sevens, BC Place, Vancouver, Canada, March 3-5, 2023):

Kathy Baker (Blackrock College RFC)
Claire Boles (Railway Union RFC)
Megan Burns (Blackrock College RFC)
Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union RFC)
Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC)
Katie Heffernan (Railway Union RFC)
Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC)
Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC)
Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC)
Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC)
Kate Farrell McCabe (Suttonians RFC)
Lucy Mulhall (Wicklow RFC) (capt)
Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC)

IRELAND WOMEN’S SEVENS Schedule – HSBC Canada Sevens:

Friday, March 3 –

POOL C:

​​​​​IRELAND 28 CANADA 7, BC Place
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Megan Burns, Béibhinn Parsons, Eve Higgins; Cons: Lucy Mulhall 4
Canada: Try: Keyara Wardley; Con: Olivia Apps
HT: Ireland 14 Canada 0

Team: Eve Higgins, Kathy Baker, Béibhinn Parsons, Emily Lane, Lucy Mulhall (capt), Megan Burns, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe.

Subs used: Stacey Flood, Katie Heffernan, Claire Boles, Erin King. Not used: Vicky Elmes Kinlan.

​​​​​IRELAND 31 BRAZIL 7, BC Place
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Eve Higgins, Béibhinn Parsons, Emily Lane, Lucy Mulhall, Erin King; Cons: Lucy Mulhall 3
Brazil: Try: Thalia Costa; Con: Luiza Campos
HT: Ireland 12 Brazil 0

Team: Eve Higgins, Kathy Baker, Stacey Flood, Emily Lane, Lucy Mulhall (capt), Megan Burns, Béibhinn Parsons.

Subs used: Erin King, Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Katie Heffernan. Not used: Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Claire Boles.

Day 1 Round-Up: Ireland Women Earn Day One Double In Vancouver

Saturday, March 4 –

POOL C:

USA 19 IRELAND 17, BC Place
Scorers: USA: Tries: Kayla Canett, Naya Tapper 2; Cons: Kayla Canett, Alev Kelter
Ireland: Tries: Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Kathy Baker, Béibhinn Parsons; Con: Lucy Mulhall
HT: USA 7 Ireland 10

Team: Eve Higgins, Kathy Baker, Béibhinn Parsons, Emily Lane, Lucy Mulhall (capt), Megan Burns, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe.

Subs used: Stacey Flood, Claire Boles. Not used: Katie Heffernan, Erin King, Vicky Elmes Kinlan.

CUP QUARTER-FINAL:

FRANCE 12 IRELAND 10, BC Place
Scorers: France: Tries: Joanna Grisez, Jade Ulutule; Con: Caroline Drouin
Ireland: Tries: Megan Burns, Lucy Mulhall
HT: France 5 Ireland 5

Team: Eve Higgins, Kathy Baker, Béibhinn Parsons, Emily Lane, Lucy Mulhall (capt), Megan Burns, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe.

Subs used: Stacey Flood, Claire Boles. Not used: Katie Heffernan, Erin King, Vicky Elmes Kinlan.

Sunday, March 5 –

5TH PLACE SEMI-FINAL:

IRELAND v CANADA, BC Place, 11.46am local time/7.46pm Irish time