HUGO KEENAN HEADS to Croatia this weekend to continue his Olympic preparation with the Ireland Men’s Sevens squad.
The Leinster and Ireland XVs star made his long-awaited return to the small-sided game last week at the Madrid Grand Final of the SVNS Series, where Ireland finished fifth.
Head coach James Topping has opted to rest the majority of his most familiar faces for this week’s Rugby Europe Championship, which begins in Makarska on Friday.
But Keenan, Connacht’s Andrew Smith and Hugo Lennox have all been retained as they continue to prepare ahead of Paris 2024.
Meanwhile, Kathy Baker returns to the Ireland Women’s squad having missed the final rounds of the SVNS Series through injury while Madrid debutant Katie Corrigan remains part of Allan Temple-Jones’ panel.
Ireland Men’s Sevens
Josh Costello, James Dillon, Nick Greene, Hugo Keenan, Jack Kelly, Ed Kelly, Joshua Kenny, Hugo Lennox, Zac McConnell, Matthew McDonald, Bryan Mollen, Connor O’Sullivan, Andrew Smith.
Ireland Women’s Sevens
Kathy Baker, Natasja Behan, Claire Boles, Aoife Corey, Katie Corrigan, Alanna Fitzpatrick, Clare Gorman, Lucinda Kinghan, Amy Larn, Kate Farrell McCabe, Anna McGann, Emma Tilly, Vikki Wall.
Fixtures
Friday, June 7
Ireland Women v Czech Republic, 10.58am
Ireland Men v Croatia, 1.50pm
Ireland Women v Turkey, 4.08pm
Ireland Men v Germany, 6.38pm
Saturday, June 8
Ireland Women v France, 11.20am
Ireland Men v Georgia, 1.28pm
– All times Irish Summer Time.