Ireland Men 7s Team made their second appearance at the Olympics when they competed at Paris 2024.

They played in a total of six matches winning three and losing three for a win percentage of 50%. Their campaign included notable wins against South Africa and USA and they were particularly unfortunate in their Cup Quarter Final match against Fiji, a couple of missed conversions coming back to haunt them.

Scorers

The team scored 101 points and conceded 74. Their points came from 17 tries and 8 conversions giving a successful conversion percentage of 47% which would be regarded a s poor at this level.

Connacht’s Chay Mullins was Irelands top try and points scorer. He also managed to claim 6th overall try scorer across the tournament scoring 25 points. He was closely followed by Ulster’s Zac Ward on 20 points from 4 tries, the Ulsterman making a name for himself with a few eye-catching and abrasive runs throughout the tournament.

Ireland’s Premier Playmaker Terry Kennedy chipped in with three tries despite being well marked throughout. The loss of his partner in crime, Jordan Conroy, after two games, had an impact on his effectiveness, their empathic understanding difficult to replace.

I was surprised that Ireland didn’t have another out and out flyer, such as Robert Baloucoune or Aaron Sexton, in the travelling reserves as there is no replacement for pace in the 7s game. I expect Hugo Keenan was selected in that role but the Ireland XV’s star struggled to make an impact, frequently turned over in the lightening quick 7s rucks.

However, the key issue was the conversion rate, with two of the three defeats lost by the odd conversion.

Summary

After a 2nd place finish in the 2023-24 World Rugby Sevens Series expectations were high for a podium finish for this team.

In general the team acquitted themselves well in what was a high standard tournament and, but for a missed knock on and a few missed kicks they would have got into the semi finals and who knows where they would have placed from there.

The rebuild cycle starts again and with the eye catching performances of Ulster’s Zac Ward, our Ireland Player of the Tournament, they have someone to build a new team round.

Photo credit: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby

Ireland Men 7s Squad

Niall Comerford (UCD RFC), Jordan Conroy (Buccaneers RFC), Hugo Keenan (Leinster), Jack Kelly (Dublin University FC), Terry Kennedy (St. Mary’s College RFC), Hugo Lennox (Skerries RFC), Harry McNulty (UCD RFC) (C), Gavin Mullin (UCD RFC), Chay Mullins (Connacht), Mark Roche (Lansdowne FC), Andrew Smith (Connacht), Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC).

Travelling Reserves: Sean Cribbin (Suttonians RFC), Bryan Mollen (UCD RFC)