ADAM LEAVY, BROTHER of Leinster and Ireland flanker Dan, is in line for his first international Sevens cap this weekend as he joins Anthony Eddy’s squad bound for Exeter.
This weekend’s tournament (which can be watched live on Sky Sports and rugbyeurope.tv) is the fourth and final round of the Rugby Europe Grand Prix. Ireland go to the south of England leading the series rankings after winning tournaments in Moscow and Clermont.
Qualification for next season’s Hong Kong Repechage is already secured, but with the top two finishers from the series earning qualification for next summer’s Sevens World Cup in San Francisco, director Anthony Eddy is intent on winning a third event to keep fate firmly in Irish hands.
“Claiming that spot at the Hong Kong Repechage next season was really important, as it was one of one of our main goals we set out to achieve this season.
“We’re in a good position going into this weekend, and the players are very focused on a good performance in Exeter and winning the Grand Prix series.”
There are two changes to the 12-man squad that went to Clermont with Mick McGrath and Josh Rowland making way for Connacht academy wing Leavy and Leinster’s Jimmy O’Brien.
Ireland’s bid to win the Grand Prix and a place at San Francisco 2018 will begin with pool matches against Portugal, Belgium and France from 11.30 on Saturday with the knock-out games to come on Sunday.
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Ireland Men’s squad for Exeter 7s
Fionn Carr (Naas)
Jordan Conroy (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Billy Dardis (UCD) Captain
Ian Fitzpatrick (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)
Adam Leavy (Galwegians/Connacht)
Harry McNulty (UCD)
Jimmy O’Brien (UCD/Leinster)
John O’Donnell (Lansdowne)
Greg O’Shea (Shannon)
Mark Roche (Lansdowne)
Nick Timoney (Queen’s University Belfast/Ulster)
Ireland’s Pool A fixtures at Exeter 7s, 15 July
Ireland v Portugal – 11.30am
Ireland v Belgium – 2.15pm
Ireland v France – 5.00pm
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It’ll be interesting to see which anthem is played before the match in Belfast….and how annoyed people get whichever one is used!
@Kevin Brett: Surely just do Ireland’s Call
@Kevin Brett: oh cripes I didn’t think of that. I still remember clenching my teeth and fists listening to the UK anthem in Croke Park.
@Kevin Brett: pre 2007 world cup we played Italy in ravenhill , paisley jr having a hissy fit that only irelands call was going to be played
@Kevin Brett: It’ll be Ireland’s Call with nothing else.
@Anna Carr: Protocol (should I use that word) says ‘God Save The Queen’ as the anthem of the host country followed by ‘Ireland’s Call’ as the anthem of the host union.
@Anna Carr: Why were you so upset? Surely we, as a nation, have moved on? And the respect that ‘God Save The Queen’ was given that day was fabulous.
@Anna Carr: No such thing as a UK anthem.
@Eoin Roche: I thought that was all there was? There aren’t official anthems for the constituent territories but for the Union there is.
@sean o’dhubhghaill: that is the protocol yes as explained as why Amhrán na bhFiann is played in Dublin in advance of Irelands call. Will be interesting alright
Would ya look at the legs and muscles on Parsons! No wonder she’s one of the fastest players on the field, some engines built in to those legs! Looking forward to seeing her tear it up in the 6N’s.
I wonder how Aviva will react to this. Didn’t their sponsorship of the stadium come with a proviso that all capped Irish games had to be in Lansdowne Road? I just recall being livid that the Irish first team game at Thomond Park was uncapped for sponsorship reasons and that it robbed Nevin Spence of his senior cap.
@SomeGuy: did you read the headline ? It’s the womens game so I doubt Aviva will care !