LAST UPDATE | 17 Jul 2022
IRELAND’S WOMEN’S AND men’s 7s teams have both qualified for the World Cup in South Africa this year.
The Irish sides are in Bucharest this weekend for the Rugby Europe qualifying competition and have both secured their places at the World Cup, which will take place in Cape Town in September.
The Irish teams came into these competitions as strong favourites to secure one of the four places on offer at the World Cup and their results have backed that status up.
The women’s team started with a 62-0 win over Wales and then beat Germany 27-0 yesterday.
Aiden McNulty’s side wrapped up the pool stages with a 52-0 victory against the Czech Republic earlier today to secure their place in the quarter-finals, where they notched a 36-0 win over Portugal to earn their place at the World Cup.
Meanwhile, the Ireland men’s 7s team started their pool campaign with a 73-0 hammering of Poland before they beat Portugal 29-0 yesterday.
They concluded a clean sweep of their pool with a 21-5 victory over Italy earlier and then faced Georgia in their crucial quarter-final for a place at the World Cup.
James Topping’s men had a poor start as the Georgians scored early on, but Ireland scored two quick-fire tries from Ed Kelly and Terry Kennedy before half-time to put themselves back in front with a 12-7 lead at the break.
They had another scare in the second half as Mark Roche was sin-binned but Georgia couldn’t take advantage from close-range and Ireland went down the other end to score through Bryan Mollen.
The Georgians scored a late consolation try but a 17-12 win was enough to see Ireland into the World Cup.
Ireland women’s 7s squad:
- Claire Boles (Railway Union RFC)
- Megan Burns (Blackrock College RFC)
- Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC)
- Katie Heffernan (Railway Union RFC)
- Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC)
- Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC)
- Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC)
- Lucinda Kinghan (Railway Union RFC/DCU RFC)
- Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC)
- Kate Farrell McCabe (Suttonians RFC)
- Anna McGann (Railway Union RFC)
- Lucy Mulhall (Wicklow RFC) (captain)
- Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union RFC)
Ireland men’s 7s squad:
- Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC)
- Matt McDonald (IQ Rugby)
- Harry McNulty (UCD RFC)
- Bryan Mollen (Blackrock College RFC)
- Billy Dardis (Terenure College RFC) (captain)
- Jordan Conroy (Buccaneers RFC)
- Hugo Lennox (Skerries RFC)
- Mark Roche (Lansdowne FC)
- Terry Kennedy (St. Mary’s College RFC)
- Sean Cribbin (Suttonians RFC)
- Chay Mullins (IQ Rugby)
- Ed Kelly (Dublin University FC)
- Aaron O’Sullivan (Ireland Sevens)
- This article was updated at 8.36pm to correct an error that stated Ireland would look to win their tournaments. They both ended at the quarter-final stage.
Our decline is now complete …. We are the new Scotland.
I think that Cyprus defeat is far too long ago now to still be an issue in the slightest. Euro 2012 was a killer though and I’d prefer we didn’t qualify for Euro 2016 as I couldn’t stomach another humiliation on that scale.
That was a desperately unlucky draw, that was a nightmare group.
What fan doesn’t want their team to qualify though?
A win against Poland and Scotland at home and it’ll all appear a lot differently. On our day, with the right players fit, we are more than capable of doing so.
This article is one hell of a knee-jerk reaction. Scrappy game, tough atmosphere against a side who a better than us on current form. It’ll probably be the exact same game at home but i fancy us to win it
The article title may be a genuinely held belief but it’s guff. Ireland is a third tier team full of journeymen players. That our first choice keeper still plays for Millwall, and our first choice striker is pension age should be enough of a red flag for even the most loyal supporters.
Once we accept that, then results like last night’s can be appreciated with perspective….
Opinions not allowed on here?
Greece sacking Ranieri is knee jerk; this article isn’t.
It’s well thought out and to the point. Too many Irish fans are shamelessly clinging onto the hope that the national side have a sincere hope of performing consistently. They don’t.
A few positive results might improve the overall standings for a newly formatted competition which is near impossible not to qualify for. Qualification for Euro 2016 is not a great achievement, yet it’s one which Irish fans should be overwhelmed with. Under par achievements are the best Ireland will ever attain.