BUCCANEERS FLYER JORDAN Conroy is one of four changes to the Ireland Men’s Sevens squad as they bid to sustain their winning run in the Rugby Europe Grand Prix.
After winning Grand Prix events in Moscow and Marcoussis, Ireland are bidding for a third win in the four-leg tournament and will face France, Italy and Sweden in Saturday’s pool stage in Exeter’s Sandy Park.
Conroy returns to the fold for the trip to Devon, as does Terry Kennedy, Alex McHenry and Jimmy O’Brien. Mark Roche, Bryan Mollen, Adam Leavy and Mick McGrath are the men to make way.
This weekend’s Exeter Sevens come a fortnight ahead of the Sevens World Cup, which will see both men and women’s Sevens outfits head to San Francisco for a fiercely contested-prize on July 20-22.
“With it being the last tournament for European teams ahead of the Sevens Rugby World Cup, we’re expecting to come up against a lot of strong sides over the course of the competition,” says coach Stan McDowell.
Ireland men’s squad for Exeter 7s
Robert Baloucoune (Enniskillen RFC/Ulster)
Jordan Conroy (Buccaneers RFC)
Shane Daly (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
Billy Dardis (UCD RFC) Captain
Foster Horan (Lansdowne FC)
Hugo Keenan (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Terry Kennedy (St. Mary’s College RFC)
Alex McHenry (Cork Constitution RFC/Munster)
Harry McNulty (UCD RFC)
Jimmy O’Brien (UCD RFC/Leinster)
John O’Donnell (Lansdowne FC)
Greg O’Shea (Shannon RFC)
Group fixtures, Saturday 7 July (matches available to watch live on RugbyEurope.tv)
Ireland v Sweden – 11.30am
Ireland v Italy – 2.15pm
Ireland v France 5.00pm
If he gets back into the Irish setup without others getting injured I’d be very surprised. Saying that if he does merit a recall then he’ll be playing fantastic rugby so for Ireland sake I hope he does.
@Chris Mc: It’s all about him I reckon cause he’s definitely got the talent/ability. As someone else pointed out here he looked in bad shape for a lot of his time at Wasps, if he really focuses on that he could challenge for a place on the squad no problem.
@The Irish Pain: wasps wanted him heavier, to be a different prop than the mobile less effective scrumager cooper wolley
Ireland now have 5 reliable TH props available . Furlong , Porter , Bealham , Ryan and Moore : all under 30 . That’s an incredible turnaround .
@Limón Madrugada: Maybe you could include Archer on that list as he seems to be first choice in Munster.
@Tom Reilly: but reliable for Ireland ?? I’m not convinced , he is capped though for sure ..
Someone on here yesterday said that Leinster made a ‘poor decision’ letting Marty Moore go.
I think the opposite, Marty Moore made a poor decision to leave Leinster.
When he left he was in the Irish 23, primed to replace Ross. He moved to Wasps and ended up not even starting for them. He also looked unfit.
In that time Leinster developed Furlong and Porter, Ireland brought in Bealham and Ryan and a few years later he’s back fighting for 3rd/4th in the Irish pecking order.
A shame because he is some prop on his day. Possibly a better scrummager than any of the above.
@Oval Digest: The word was that Moore was excited to play under Dai Young, a well capped Welsh and Lions prop. Maybe it was the 2 year deal offered by Leinster vs the 3 year Wasps deal (undoubtedly for more money) that was the real reason. Or maybe he saw Tadgh Furlong coming through and thought now’s the time to cash in. Or perhaps he thought Leinster are not gonna be challenging any more. If it was the Young factor that helped him go, the renowned Young had no impact on him other than gaining weight. The move might have been good for his bank balance but it was a disaster for his career. Thus far. Still, a big season and he could play his way in.
@grandslamkbo The word was also that Moore signed a contract without realising that he couldn’t get out of it in an effort to bargain with the IRFU, and then got stuck.
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/leinster-admit-defeat-in-bid-to-retain-marty-moore-s-services-1.2510136
Marty is good on his day when fit, the problem is there just isn’t enough of those days.
He will have to buck up his ideas if he is to have a sniff of being anywhere near the Irish squad.
Yes squad not team
His whole career and how people will view his achievements relies on his application for the next two years
Be interesting to see how Nathan Hughes goes this season, he should be pushing for a place in the English team.
@Ruairi O’Bric: He is a super club player but I’m not sure about his workrate apart from ball carrying. If Billy V stays fits there’s no comparison…
Looked very unfit at Wasps as when he was playing previously for Leinster he had great mobility/work-rate and could force a few turnovers too.
He was overweight when he last played for Leinster and Ireland and things have only gotten worse since, needs to go on a serious shred if he is to make Ireland contention again.