Ireland men's 7s

Ireland are still on course for Olympic qualification in the 7s.

They (just) need to win the final qualification tournament in (most likely) June next year against World Series nations Canada, Russia, Spain and either Samoa or Australia for the final spot.

Once the 6 nations are done, Ireland should to get a 7s dream team together in order to have a proper crack like what NZ are doing.

Imagine a team of Jack O'Donoghue, Dan Leavy, Robbie Henshaw, Ian Madigan, Simon Zebo, Craig Gilroy and Luke Fitzgerald. Maybe Jarad Payne as well, Kiwis are good at 7s. Would Bundee Aki be eligible then?

Fast and skillful loosies and outside backs, and a maverick at half back.

http://www.the42.ie/ireland-men-sevens-programme-olympics-2225361-Jul2015/

Would the irfu go for it? If so, who should, could and would be a part of the team?

Also in regards to the wider issue of getting a 7s team to compete in the World Series, I think it's time we started funding it properly. There plenty of good, young back and forwards 3rd, 4th, 5th choice at their province that could really develop on the series. It would act as the 4th and half province.

the-goon wrote:...They (just) need to win the final qualification tournament in (most likely) June next year against World Series nations Canada, Russia, Spain and either (Samoa or Australia) for the final spot.

Portugal are another decent 7s side who will be in that play-off.

I'd quite like Samoa to claim the Pacific spot, if only to leave Australia biting their nails over Olympic qualification.

Portugal are out, knocked out by Russia in the QFs of the European Repechage tournament. Russia, Germany, Ireland and Spain (2nd in the European Grand Prix) have made it.
France have qualified for Rio from the European region.

To be eligible for the Olympics, players would have to hold an Irish passport which would rule out Bundee and Co.

In fairness to the IRFU, they are investing in 7s now. Nucifora is driving it. Thomond Park is running a club tournament every year (and this year all the Provinces are sending teams).

I would not like to see players being parachuted in from the 15s game. It just wouldn't be fair on the lads who have got to this stage (though I don't think they will make it to Rio - too much strong competition). Women might.

the-goon wrote:Portugal are out, knocked out by Russia in the QFs of the European Repechage tournament. Russia, Germany, Ireland and Spain (2nd in the European Grand Prix) have made it.
France have qualified for Rio from the European region.

Apologies for being clueless. Thanks for setting me right!

I think we should everything to get into the Olympics, and that should include getting Internationals to join the 7s program. This should be a bigger deal than the Lions, and is for me. Ireland are a major rugby nation and if we don't qualify, we will be the only "big 10" side along with Italy not to make it.

the-goon wrote:I think we should everything to get into the Olympics, and that should include getting Internationals to join the 7s program. This should be a bigger deal than the Lions, and is for me. Ireland are a major rugby nation and if we don't qualify, we will be the only "big 10" side along with Italy not to make it.

Why?

Ireland stand as much chance of winning a medal by not being there as being there. Ireland have never made the semi-finals of the RWC despite having a long history in that game and fewer opponents. So how are these 7s novices supposed to compete in a game they have no pedigree and with far more (and better funded) competition. Do the IRFU really want to ship a couple of dozen guys around the world to end up in maybe the occasional Bowl final at the expense of the XV game? Ireland don't have a lot of rugby players, neither have they ever had any sprinters of note - both are pre-requisites of success in the short game.

It's a different game, players are on average 10 kg lighter playing 7s, so to say it prepares them for 15s is a myth. All a sevens circuit is doing is producing sevens players while their stay-at-home counterparts are developing the skills that will push them ahead in the professional XV game. Guys in Ireland can't make a career in sevens but they could seriously harm their chances in the professional fifteen man game. Does anyone seriously think a current (or potential) Test player would forgo the chance of a squad place at the RWC to try to qualify for the Olympic Sevens?

Requiring players to hold an Irish passport is something that is not required in the XV game, yet has the potential to create a division where there was previously harmony. The higher the prominence of Sevens then the higher the risk that this issue will be divisive at some time and that is something against the current inclusive ethos of Irish Rugby. Players and fans alike look upon Rugby in Ireland as apolitical so why would the IRFU threaten that status?

Can't think of any good reason why the IRFU would want to damage the XV game for a pipe dream of Olympic representation.

Team GB is likely to be made up of the dominant England side (possibly with the odd Welsh or Scottish player). Are there any NI-qualified players going to try and put their hand up?

How will this fit with the Ireland attempt?

The Great Aukster wrote:
Requiring players to hold an Irish passport is something that is not required in the XV game, yet has the potential to create a division where there was previously harmony. The higher the prominence of Sevens then the higher the risk that this issue will be divisive at some time and that is something against the current inclusive ethos of Irish Rugby. Players and fans alike look upon Rugby in Ireland as apolitical so why would the IRFU threaten that status?

Can't think of any good reason why the IRFU would want to damage the XV game for a pipe dream of Olympic representation.

Too late for the passport to be devisive (I don't think it would be because no one would be forced to play 7s in the Olympics). I don't get why it would only be divisive if there were players from the senior XVs. There are teams trying to qualify anyway (men & women). The boxers and hockey players manage it anyway.

The IRFU have chosen the flag and anthem they have to be apolitical - perhaps you should ask them why?

Is the passport thing that big a deal, there are other cross border sports where people have represented Ireland and in a few cases e.g. Barry Maguigan the other way - he was registered as a British boxer.

Cyril wrote:Team GB is likely to be made up of the dominant England side (possibly with the odd Welsh or Scottish player). Are there any NI-qualified players going to try and put their hand up?

How will this fit with the Ireland attempt?

Yeah Tom Court's available if you want him.

rodders wrote:

Cyril wrote:Team GB is likely to be made up of the dominant England side (possibly with the odd Welsh or Scottish player). Are there any NI-qualified players going to try and put their hand up?

How will this fit with the Ireland attempt?

Yeah Tom Court's available if you want him.

he struggles at XVs!

Cyril wrote:Team GB is likely to be made up of the dominant England side (possibly with the odd Welsh or Scottish player). Are there any NI-qualified players going to try and put their hand up?

How will this fit with the Ireland attempt?

NI based players aren't eligible for Team GB, the governing body fall under the Irish Olympic umbrella and because of that all the players do. Its the same with the likes of boxing.

The Great Aukster wrote:The IRFU have chosen the flag and anthem they have to be apolitical - perhaps you should ask them why?

The Flag & Anthem they will have to use if a 7s team makes the Olympics though is the Irish one.

Irish Londoner wrote:Is the passport thing that big a deal, there are other cross border sports where people have represented Ireland and in a few cases e.g. Barry Maguigan the other way - he was registered as a British boxer.

Was that not to do with him wanting to compete for boxing British titles and go to the Commonwealth games?

marty2086 wrote:

Cyril wrote:Team GB is likely to be made up of the dominant England side (possibly with the odd Welsh or Scottish player). Are there any NI-qualified players going to try and put their hand up?

How will this fit with the Ireland attempt?

NI based players aren't eligible for Team GB, the governing body fall under the Irish Olympic umbrella and because of that all the players do. Its the same with the likes of boxing.

I'm not quite sure what you mean. What do you mean by "NI based"? As in the side they are registered with is based in NI? How does that work with boxers? Plenty of Northern Irish boxers have represented Team GB haven't they?

Cyril wrote:

marty2086 wrote:

Cyril wrote:Team GB is likely to be made up of the dominant England side (possibly with the odd Welsh or Scottish player). Are there any NI-qualified players going to try and put their hand up?

How will this fit with the Ireland attempt?

NI based players aren't eligible for Team GB, the governing body fall under the Irish Olympic umbrella and because of that all the players do. Its the same with the likes of boxing.

I'm not quite sure what you mean. What do you mean by "NI based"? As in the side they are registered with is based in NI? How does that work with boxers? Plenty of Northern Irish boxers have represented Team GB haven't they?

I can't think of any NI born boxers who have opted to represent Team GB rather than Ireland. Carl Frampton (Unionist background): "I get asked all the time, 'would you have liked to have boxed for Great Britain?' And the answer is no. I was looked after by Irish boxing from pretty much 11 years old and was very proud to box for Ireland."

Wayne McCullough (also Unionist background) carried the Tricolour at 1988 Olympics.

Pretty sure it was Barcelona in 92...

rodders wrote:Pretty sure it was Barcelona in 92...

Sin proving yet again what we all know to be true...that his memory is too long and 1988 is remembered like it was just yesterday.

That's probably where Sin went wrong with his dates..................... 1988 probably felt like 1992.

Only!!!!..........!

Sin has proved once again what we all know to be true ...that he rarely if ever gets his facts wrong.

And he ain't wrong here either  1988 Seoul, Wayne carries the Irish flag.

Never Ever question Sin's research, you doubting Thomas!

My bad...must have mixed Wayne up with some other non Munster fella.