Women: Decisive Weekend for Ireland Women’s 7’s Programme

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by

John McMurtry
Smiles for Ireland Women 7's following their final day win against Argentina.
Smiles for Ireland Women 7’s following their final day win against Argentina in the Brazil leg of the WSWS

It’s been a difficult season for Ireland Women 7’s in their first season of the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series and given the amount of money and resources thrown at this discipline you would have to say it’s been a disappointment.

In the five IRB WSWS events played this year the results have been as follows.

EventPlayedWonDrewLostFinal Standing
Dubai511311th of 12
USA510412th of 12
Brazil510411th of 12
China52039th of 12
Netherlands510411th of 12
Total25611813th of 17

Work has been done to bring more talent into Women’s Rugby with the Talent ID Programme, there are three players from this programme in the current sevens squad, but it has been at the expense of developing the women’s 15’s game which didn’t get an opportunity to kick on following their great success in the 2012 – 13 Six Nations.

As it is the sevens programme is drinking in the last chance saloon this weekend at the European Women’s Sevens Grand Prix in Moscow with regards to re-qualification for the WSWS with a top five finish required if they are to progress to the WSWS re-qualification event in September.

You would expect England, Russia, Spain, Netherlands and France to finish above Ireland, going on past results, but the Irish girls have produced one off wins against Netherlands and Spain so the draw at the knock out stages could be vital for their chances.

They have been placed in a reasonable group with England, Portugal and Belgium where a second place finish is a possibility, but anything less will count them out of the WSWS for next season.

The squad once again features Belfast Harlequins and Ulster player .

IRELAND WOMEN’S SEVENS SQUAD: 

1. (Blackrock/Leinster) (capt)
2. Martina McCarthy (St. Mary’s/Talent ID Programme)
3. (Talent ID Programme)
4. (Shannon/Munster)
5. (UL Bohemians/Munster)
6. (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
7. Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Clanwilliam/Munster)
8. (Blackrock/Leinster)
9. Nikki Caughey (Belfast Harlequins/ Ulster)
10. (Tralee/ Munster)
11. (Talent ID Programme)
12. (Railway Union/Leinster)

IRELAND FIXTURES: POOL B – Saturday, June 7
IRELAND v Portugal, 11.28am local time/8.28am Irish time
IRELAND v Belgium, 2.28pm local time/11.28am Irish time
England v IRELAND, 5.28pm local time/2.28pm Irish time

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