THE IRELAND SQUAD which will travel to Dubai for the opening leg of the 2017/18 World Rugby Seven Series has been announced, with two uncapped players included for next week’s tournament.
Anthony Eddy today revealed his 12-player panel for the opening tournament of the new season as Ireland look to better last year’s ninth-place finish.
Lucy Mulhall once again captains the squad which contains two new faces in teenager Eve Higgins and Munster’s Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird.
Higgins is a product of the IRFU’s sevens pathway system and has represented Ireland at schools and U18 level, while Nic a Bhaird was part of the extended 15s squad for last summer’s World Cup.
Four players who competed in that tournament — Ashleigh Baxter, Katie Fitzhenry, Louise Galvin and Hannah Tyrrell — will be involved in Dubai next week, with Aoife Doyle returning to the set-up following injury.
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Claire Boles and Stacey Flood, who spent the winter playing for Bond University in Australia, are selected along with Audrey O’Flynn and Ireland’s top try-scorer from last season Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe.
Ireland have been drawn in Pool C alongside Canada, Fiji and Spain and begin their tournament on Thursday 30 November.
“I think the squad are really excited about the World Series this year and having shown some good improvement the last couple of seasons, we will be looking to build on that throughout the series,” Eddy said.
Stacey Flood is included after spending the winter playing in Australia. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
“We’re drawn with Canada, Fiji and Spain, and we know what those sides will bring to each game. Fiji are first up, so we’ll be focusing on that and looking to get the tournament off to a positive start.
“The Dubai Sevens is always a great event to start off the World Series – there’s always a festival atmosphere and there’s usually a good turnout of Irish supporters over the weekend, so I know the players are looking forward to getting over there and getting the season underway.”
The World Rugby Seven Series consists of five events spread out over the course of the next seven months with legs in Sydney, Japan, Canada and Paris part of the schedule.
Canada v Ireland, 3.18pm local time/11.18am Irish time
Ireland v Spain, 5.53pm local time/1.53pm Irish time
Friday 1 December
Play-offs
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Ireland reveal squad for opening tournament of World Seven Series in Dubai
THE IRELAND SQUAD which will travel to Dubai for the opening leg of the 2017/18 World Rugby Seven Series has been announced, with two uncapped players included for next week’s tournament.
Anthony Eddy today revealed his 12-player panel for the opening tournament of the new season as Ireland look to better last year’s ninth-place finish.
Lucy Mulhall once again captains the squad which contains two new faces in teenager Eve Higgins and Munster’s Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird.
Higgins is a product of the IRFU’s sevens pathway system and has represented Ireland at schools and U18 level, while Nic a Bhaird was part of the extended 15s squad for last summer’s World Cup.
Four players who competed in that tournament — Ashleigh Baxter, Katie Fitzhenry, Louise Galvin and Hannah Tyrrell — will be involved in Dubai next week, with Aoife Doyle returning to the set-up following injury.
Claire Boles and Stacey Flood, who spent the winter playing for Bond University in Australia, are selected along with Audrey O’Flynn and Ireland’s top try-scorer from last season Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe.
Ireland have been drawn in Pool C alongside Canada, Fiji and Spain and begin their tournament on Thursday 30 November.
“I think the squad are really excited about the World Series this year and having shown some good improvement the last couple of seasons, we will be looking to build on that throughout the series,” Eddy said.
“We’re drawn with Canada, Fiji and Spain, and we know what those sides will bring to each game. Fiji are first up, so we’ll be focusing on that and looking to get the tournament off to a positive start.
“The Dubai Sevens is always a great event to start off the World Series – there’s always a festival atmosphere and there’s usually a good turnout of Irish supporters over the weekend, so I know the players are looking forward to getting over there and getting the season underway.”
The World Rugby Seven Series consists of five events spread out over the course of the next seven months with legs in Sydney, Japan, Canada and Paris part of the schedule.
Ireland squad:
Ashleigh Baxter (Cooke/Ulster)
Claire Boles (Railway Union/Ulster)
Aoife Doyle (Shannon/Railway Union/Munster)
Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock/Leinster)
Stacey Flood (Railway Union/Leinster)
Louise Galvin (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Eve Higgins (Railway Union/Leinster)
Lucy Mulhall (Rathdrum) (capt)
Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union/Munster)
Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Audrey O’Flynn (Ireland Sevens)
Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Fixtures:
Thursday 30 November
Friday 1 December
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
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