Ireland Women have reached the quarter finals of the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow, the Girls in Green will face the USA or Spain tomorrow morning at 9:50 am (UK/IRE).

It’s a huge achievement for the girls in what has been a remarkable year of achievement in both the 15 a side game and the shortened version of the game. The fact that it’s been largely the same girls featuring in both competitions is maybe for another day, but it does speak highly of the professionalism of these amateurs who have been on the go, non stop, since this time last year.

In today’s pool games Ashleigh Baxter opened the scoring for Ireland in the RWC7’s with a try against South Africa. Ireland won their first game 12 – 5 with Lynne Cantwell scoring the second try, Jenny Murphy added the conversion.

Ireland went down 22 – 5 against Australia in their second pool match, Alison Miller scoring for Ireland, making their final match against China a must win.

The girls secured qualification with a 28 – 10 win against China. Claire Molloy, Alison Miller (2) and Lynne Cantwell scored the tries with Spence adding four conversions. Only an extraordinary result in the South Africa v Australia game would prevent the girls from qualifying for the quarter-finals but it was still a nervy three hour wait for the result of that match. Australia won 29 – 0 ensuring Ireland’s qualification.

Ireland’s match against the USA or Spain will be broadcast live tomorrow morning on the IRB RWC Sevens Site.

Ireland Women’s Sevens Squad: Jenny Murphy,  Claire Molloy, Sophie Spence, Jeanette Feighery, Larissa Muldoon, Lynne Cantwell, Alison Miller, Shannon Houston, Amy Davis, Ashleigh Baxter, Laura O’Mahony, Nikki Caughey.