Ireland’s men’s and women’s sevens teams, sponsored by Triton Lakehave been appointed by the return of the Emirates Dubai Sevensas a pivot HSBC Rugby Sevens World Series The season starts this weekend in the desert.
Ireland Men finished seventh in the Series opener in Hong Kong last month and after a stellar 2022 that included the memorable Rugby World Cup Sevens bronze medal, James ToppingThe ‘s side will bet on giving a positive boost to their campaign.
Topping has named an established 13-man squad for Dubai, with Ireland Men paired in Group C alongside France, Spain and Uganda. The top two teams from each group advance to Saturday’s quarter-finals.
Dubai marks the start of the 2023 Women’s Series and Ireland will be hoping to build on last year’s success, especially with the added motivation of Olympic qualification at stake this year.
The top four finishers in the men’s and women’s standings will automatically secure qualification for Paris 2024, with Ireland’s two teams firmly eyeing that goal.
head coach Aiden McNulty has selected a strong 13-man squad for Dubai, with Lucy Mulhall He will once again lead Ireland as they prepare to face Fiji, Spain and Japan in Friday’s pool action. McNulty’s side will go out on top of Group C to secure a place in Saturday’s knockout rounds, with only two runners-up also progressing to the quarter-final stage.
Ireland Women open their Dubai campaign against Spain on Friday morning (9:00 local time/5:00 Irish time), before Ireland face the same opposition in their curtain-raiser at the Sevens Stadium (10 :06 local time / 6:06 Irish time). You can watch all the World Series action live on the World Rugby Sevens website, there will be updates on Irish Rugby’s social channels and reports on IrishRugby.ie.
Ireland’s men’s and women’s development teams will also be in action in Dubai this weekend as they compete in the invitational tournament. The two teams will be named on Wednesday.
IRELAND MEN’S Squad (Dubai Sevens, Sevens Stadium, 2-3 December 2022):
Niall Comerford (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Jordan Conroy (Buccaneers RFC)
Sean Cribbin (Suttonians RFC)
Ed Kelly (Dublin University FC)
Jack Kelly (Dublin University FC)
Hugo Lennox (Skerries RFC)
Harry McNulty (UCD RFC)
Bryan Mollen (UCD RFC)
Chay Mullins (Connacht/IQ Rugby)
Aaron O’Sullivan (UCD RFC)
Mark Roche (Lansdowne FC)
Andrew Smith (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC)
IRELAND WOMEN’S National Team (Dubai Sevens, Sevens Stadium, 2-3 December 2022):
Kathy Baker (Blackrock College 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)
Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere 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) (catch)
Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC)
Schedule IRELAND SEVENS – Dubai Sets:
Friday, December 2 –
- Ireland Women v Spain, Sevens Stadium, 9:00 local time / 5:00 Irish time
- Ireland Men v Spain, Sevens Stadium, 10.06am local time/ 6.06am Irish time
- Ireland Women v Japan, Sevens Stadium, 12.21pm local time/8.21pm Irish time
- Ireland Men v Uganda, Sevens Stadium, 14:36 local time/10:36 Irish time
- Ireland Women v Fiji, Sevens Stadium, 16:13 local time/12:13 Irish time
- Ireland Men v France, Sevens Stadium, 7.35pm local time/3.35pm Irish time.
Saturday December 3 –