IRELAND HAVE NAMED their sevens squad for the Rugby Europe Men’s Division B competition in Croatia this weekend, as they aim to take another step towards Olympic qualification.
Anthony Eddy’s men made light work of hammering the likes of Belarus, Turkey and hosts Bosnia on the way to winning the Divison C tournament in scorching conditions in Zenica two weekends ago, a victory that qualified them for Division B.
Success in this weekend’s competition in Zagreb would see Ireland advance into the Rugby Europe Olympic Repechage Tournament in Portugal next month, the winner of which will then compete in the World Olympic Repechage in 2016 to secure the last spot for Rio 2016.
The quality of opposition in Division C was extremely poor, meaning Eddy’s side were free to run in try after try, but they will expect a sterner test against Slovenia, Bulgaria and Austria in their pool this weekend.
Eddy makes two changes to his 12-strong squad for the trip to Croatia, as St. Mary’s man Terry Kennedy and Lansdowne flyer Ian Fitzpatrick come in for Michael Lawton and Cian Aherne.
“This competition is key to the Olympic pathway but also serves as a stepping stone to promotion to the Division A competition in 2016,” said Eddy in an IRFU statement.
“As a squad, we are developing well but we need to go out and preform to the best of our ability again this weekend to progress.”
Ireland squad for Rugby Europe Men’s Division B:
Adam Byrne (UCD/Leinster)
Aaron Cairns (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
Tom Daly (Lansdowne/ Leinster) Capt
Ian Fitzpatrick (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Terry Kennedy (St Mary’s/ Leinster)
Shane Layden (Buccaneers/ Connacht)
Gearoid Lyons (Young Munster/ Munster)
Diarmuid McCarthy (Young Munster/Munster)
David McGuigan (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
Harry McNulty (UCD/Leinster)
Mark Roche (Lansdowne/ Leinster)
Alex Wootton (Garryowen/Munster)
Match schedule (times are local):
Saturday 20 June
11.28 Slovenia v Ireland
13.22 Bulgaria v Ireland
16.22 Ireland v Austria
Sunday 21 June
Play-offs
**********
Meanwhile, the Ireland Women’s Sevens squad for the second round of the European Olympic qualifiers this weekend in France has also been named.
Ireland Women in Russia last weekend, where they won the Plate. Source: Irish Rugby
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Ireland head into the Brive-hosted tournament to face a pool also containing England, Germany and Scotland, having won the Plate competition at the first round in Russia last weekend.
Eddy says Ireland’s ambition for round two is to advance into the Cup final, although the fact that England are a World Series side had the potential to make that more difficult.
That said, the English squad named for this tournament is largely made up of less experienced players as they have already secured qualification for the Olympics.
Given the strength of Ireland’s squad, including as it does 15s internationals Ashleigh Baxter, Claire Molloy and Ali Miller, they will expect to advance from their pool and head into the Cup play-offs on Sunday.
In total there are three changes to the Ireland squad, with Shannon’s Nicole Cronin, Cooke pace merchant Baxter and Audrey O’Flynn coming in for Jenny Murphy, Stacey Flood and Megan Williams.
Ireland Women’s squad for round two of European Olympic Qualifiers:
Shannon Houston (Blackrock/ Leinster)
Audrey O’ Flynn (TID)
Nicole Cronin (Shannon/ Munster)
Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (St Mary’s/ Leinster)
Eimear Considine (TID)
Ashleigh Baxter (Cook/ Ulster)
Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock/ Leinster)
Claire Keohane (UL Bohemian/ Munster)
Lucy Mulhall (TID) (captain)
Claire Molloy (Bristol/ Connacht)
Louise Galvin (UL Bohemian/ Munster)
Alison Miller (Portlaoise/ Connacht)
Match schedule (times are local):
Saturday 20 June
11.50 – Ireland v Scotland
14.50 – Ireland v Germany
17.28 – Ireland v England
Sunday 21 June
Play-offs
– This article was updated at 13.26 to amend the erroneous statement that Germany and Scotland compete on the World Women’s Sevens Series.
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