Ireland’s 7s squad booked their place yesterday in the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013, nicking the final available spot with a win over the Ukraine. The team was at the FIRA/AER European Championship tournament, which also served as the Qualifiers for the World Cup taking place in Russia next year. Ireland’s qualification is [...]

Things look a promising for Ireland’s 7s rugby squad, who have been almost unbeatable since the seven-a-side team was formed just a few short months ago. Now the real work begins, however: To get to the World Cup, which is exactly 365 days away, Ireland must rank among the top five teams in this weekend’s qualifying tournament in Moscow.

New Zealand schmealand. It’s all about Belgium this weekend, when Ireland’s only international 7s squad travels to Ghent for the FIRA/AER European Championship 2012.

The Amsterdam Sevens took place last weekend, where Irish rugby’s newest team, the international Sevens squad, had their first real taste of international competition – and came away with the Heineken Boot trophy. The results indicated a steep but definite learning curve for the players. Their hectic summer schedule culminates in June with World Cup Qualifiers in Ghent and Moscow.

Since the out-of-the-blue announcement by the IRFU that Ireland will field a women’s sevens side, it has been all go for the players in training camps and tournaments – and the pace continues through the summer, starting tomorrow with this weekend’s Amsterdam Sevens competition.