Russia slammed the brakes on Ireland Women’s race to the Rio Olympics with a 10 – 19 win in the semi final of the Global Repechage Dublin 7’s at the UCD Bowl yesterday afternoon. 

Ireland regrouped to beat Kazakhstan in the third place play off, re-qualifying for the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series next season in the process. Russia, on the other hand, were done over by a street smart Spain in the final, the wily Patricia Garcia pulling the strings in a 19 – 12 win for the Spanish.  The Spanish Women joining their Men’s team in the 2016 Olympic Games. 

Fixtures and results

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Given past results in the world of Women’s Sevens, Ireland got as far as could be reasonably expected and they produced their best game of the season in their semi final against Russia, a fairly physical encounter in front of a small, but vociferous, crowd. The players should be congratulated for their efforts, they left nothing on the pitch, however the whole of the Ireland Women’s Sevens set-up needs dramatic changes, from the top down, if Ireland are going to progress beyond this level. 

Ireland Scorers

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Bob Given was on duty for the Front Row Union down in Dublin. You can view images from all of Ireland’s fixtures below plus a bonus gallery of selected images from other games over the two days.

[su_spoiler title=”Round 1: Ireland 51 – 0 Trinidad and Tobago” icon=”arrow”]

Round 1: Ireland 51 – 0 Trinidad and Tobago
TRY: Miller (4), Murphy Crowe (2), Briggs, Williams, O’Flynn. CON: Mulhall (2)  K Flood

[/su_spoiler][su_spoiler title=”Round 2: Ireland 24 – 12 Portugal” icon=”arrow”]

Round 2: Ireland 24 – 12 Portugal
TRY: Murphy Crowe (2) Mulhall, S Flood. CON: Mulhall (2) 

[/su_spoiler][su_spoiler title=”Round 3: Ireland 12 – 0 China” icon=”arrow”]

Round 3: Ireland 12 – 0 China
TRY: Murphy Crowe (2). CON: Mulhall

[/su_spoiler][su_spoiler title=”Quarter Final: Ireland 38 – 0 Tunisia ” icon=”arrow”]

Quarter Final: Ireland 38 – 0 Tunisia 
TRY: Cronin, Mulhall, Miller (2), S Flood, Baxter CON: Mulhall (3) K Flood

[/su_spoiler][su_spoiler title=”Semi Final: Ireland 10 Russia 19 ” icon=”arrow”]

Semi Final: Ireland 10 Russia 19
TRY: Doyle, Miller

[/su_spoiler][su_spoiler title=”Third Place Play Off: Ireland 17 Kazakhstan 5 ” icon=”arrow”]

Third Place Play Off: Ireland 17 Kazakhstan 5
TRY: Doyle (2), Murphy Crowe. CON: Mulhall

[/su_spoiler][su_spoiler title=”Other Matches (BONUS)” icon=”arrow”]

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