Flying high, the Ireland women’s 7s side is consistently winning in European competition, ahead of crucial Rugby World Cup Sevens qualification steps that place their fortune, into their own hands.
The women are peaking, and if the timing is not perfect, then it should propel the Irish representatives in the 7s game – yet in the XVs game, the challenge of visiting New Zealand was one thing. Now, 1-0 down to the All Blacks, a big challenge now occupies that game’s mind.
Meanwhile, a perfect summer distraction should interest those who prefer the faster and more successful outcomes that the Ireland women’s 7s playing group are achieving.
Ireland women’s 7s team flying high
With the aim of qualifying for the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2021 tournament in Cape Town, success along the way sees the Ireland women’s 7s team flying high. Winning, consistent performance; ‘ticking all the boxes’ you might say.
Trophy time at the #krakow7s #NothingLikeIt I @TritonLake I #Ireland7s pic.twitter.com/aDFTCUFqis
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) July 3, 2022
Winning the treats and prize accolades is a benefit that Ireland and Rugby Europe women’s Trophy competition winners, Poland can enjoy. That applies to the men’s champions, Spain too. They are all aiming high naturally, and for Irish Rugby, their women and their men have been a hugely successful component of the game. And it bears ultimate rewards when the World Rugby qualification tournament begins on July 16-17.
On the Irish Rugby website, the side is heralded for its winning run. Continuing, they ‘added another historic achievement to this season’s ledger by winning the Krakow 7s title, beating hosts Poland 21-17 in the final. Aiden McNulty’s side went unbeaten across the weekend, qualifying for their first-ever Rugby Europe Sevens Championship final, and picking up the trophy thanks to a late try from captain Lucy Mulhall’.
In a year in which they had breakthrough silver and bronze success on the World Series, the Krakow gold comes as a timely boost ahead of the Rugby World Cup Sevens qualifying tournament in Bucharest in two weeks’ time.
After the Budapest leg, the Irish men’s team was crowned Rugby Europe Trophy champions. This was a feather in the crown of the men, adding to prizes they have claimed in the lead-up to the Cape Town event, it is just even as both sides aim toward July 16-17, the end of the month also holds a huge carrot, of the Commonwealth Games.
Busy month ahead for ‘blooming’ Irish rugby sevens teams’
With summer in control of the local conditions, the fast-flowing game of 7s is a perfect excuse for rugby fans to relax and watch ‘seven minutes per half’ of rugby. And across Europe, many sides have planned to peak now to affirm those goals at regular weekend events. The Ireland women’s 7s team is achieving that focus with a great degree of success. As too are the men – brilliant results over both squads, that will fill Irish stakeholders with a high volume of confidence.
With their increased exposure to the elite level of International rugby sevens; specifically participation in the HSBC Sevens Series [for the men, a many number of year’s involved, and then as invited and as now a core member recently for the women] it is showing in recent outcomes. How all this wealth of experience is assisting the Celtic nation in planning for, and accomplishing goals like the RWC7s qualification goal.
It all looks positive for both groups to qualify in mid-July.
Busy now, for the women, a 10th place finish in the 2020 abridged World series was followed up by a stupendous result this latest season. Close to winning the group’s first-ever tournament in Seville, in fact, they showed the recent form and consistent results should be sustainable right through July (all things equal). So the Irish women must be suitably motivated to match the men’s success on the Sevens circuit.
Primarily though, Irish eyes are fixed on three goals:
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Qualification for the Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament in September
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Compete at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham
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Participate in the RWC7s in Cape Town
Completion of those objectives will seal the belief in the Ireland women’s 7s side. First competing at a World Cup in 2013, if the Irish women manage to end their calendar on a high note, it would cap off a huge improvement in the standard displayed by both the women and Irish men.
That would certainly provide some Craic for Irish rugby sevens supporters worldwide.
“Main photo credit from Twitter“
